3 syllables: Max, ill, a. Stress on ill.
mak-SIL-uh
/mæˈksɪlə/
Maxilla is pronounced mak-SIL-uh (/mæˈksɪlə/). It has three syllables (Max-ill-a), with the stress on "ill". Maxilla (plural maxillae) is the upper jawbone forming the central facial skeleton, holding the upper teeth and forming parts of the eye sockets, nasal cavity, and palate. In anatomy and medicine, it denotes one of the paired facial bones, contributing to facial structure and dental alignment. The term is used in clinical contexts and anatomy coursework.
nounMaxilla (plural maxillae) is the upper jawbone forming the central facial skeleton, holding the upper teeth and forming parts of the eye sockets, nasal cavity, and palate. In anatomy and medicine, it denotes one of the paired facial bones, contributing to facial structure and dental alignment. The term is used in clinical contexts and anatomy coursework.
- Correction tips: • Drill /mæk/ with a crisp /k/ then t bit of /s/ to form /ks/. • Practice 4-6 minimal pairs with nearby sounds: /mæk/ vs /meɪk/ and /sɪ/ vs /sɪl/. • Record and compare: listen for the first-stressed syllable clarity, the /ks/ release, and the final /lə/. • Do mouth-position warmups: jaw drop for /æ/, tip-of-tongue contact for /k/ and /s/; keep l relaxed.
How to Pronounce Maxilla
"The maxilla houses the upper teeth and articulates with the zygomatic bone."
"Fractures of the maxilla can affect the midface and dental occlusion."
"The surgeon repaired the maxilla to restore normal facial contour after trauma."
Pronounce as /ˈmæk.sɪ.lə/ (US) or /ˈmæk.sɪ.lə/ (UK/AU) with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with a short /æ/ as in cat, then /k/ followed by a subtle /s/ before /ɪ/ and a soft /lə/ ending. Mouth position: jaw opens modestly, tongue high for the /æ/ and lightly elevates for /ɪ/. For reference, you can listen to medical pronunciations on Pronounce or Forvo to hear the emphasis on the first syllable.
Two frequent errors: (1) Over-stressing the second syllable or misplacing the /s/ with a /z/; keep primary stress on the first syllable and use a crisp /s/ rather than /z/ before the /ɪ/. (2) Slurring the final /lə/ into a schwa; aim for a light, clear /lə/ with the tongue relaxed but not reduced. Practice by isolating /mæk-ˈsɪ-lə/ and repeating in slow increments, then normal speed.
US: /ˈmæk.sɪ.lə/ with rhotic? Not rhotic in US; the ending is relaxed /lə/. UK/AU: /ˈmæk.sɪ.lə/ with slightly shorter /æ/ and a crisper /k/; non-rhotic accents each pronounce the final syllable clearly but without an r-color. The main differences lie in vowel quality: US /æ/ is more open, UK/AU can be marginally tenser (/æ/). In all, the /-x-/-s-/ cluster remains /ks/; keep the /ks/ sequence crisp across varieties.
The challenge centers on the consonant cluster /ks/ after an open-front vowel and the final unstressed /lə/. Non-native speakers often insert an extra vowel or mispronounce /s/ as /z/. Also, rapid speech can blur the /k/ and /s/ into /ks/ but with reduced clarity. Focus on a clean /æ/ → /k/ transition, crisp /ks/ release, and a short, relaxed final /lə/ to achieve a native-like delivery.
A distinctive feature is maintaining a clear, unambiguous /ks/ sequence immediately after /æ/. The tongue quickly transitions from a lower jaw position for /æ/ to touch the palate for /ks/, without a taught hiatus. Also ensure the /l/ is light and syllabic onset for the final syllable, avoiding vocalic “uh” before /lə/. Practice with slow enunciation and then speed up while preserving precision.
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Maxilla comes from Latin maxilla, meaning “little mouth” or “jaw,” derived from magis “more” or maxilla itself as diminutive of maxilla, reflecting its position as the upper jawbone. The word entered scientific Latin in anatomical texts during the Renaissance as medicine and anatomy formalized. In English, maxilla has remained the standard anatomical term for the upper jawbone, with maxillae as the plural. The root maxill- relates to the jaw or mouth, with -a as a feminine noun ending in Latin. The historical development tracks the broader naming of craniofacial bones as anatomists cataloged skull bones in the 16th–19th centuries, adopting Latinized forms for precision across languages. First known use in modern English anatomy appears in early 17th century pharmacology and dissection documentation, expanding to clinical usage in dentistry and maxillofacial surgery by the 19th and 20th centuries. In contemporary contexts, maxilla is ubiquitous in medical literature, radiology, and dental terminology, sometimes appearing alongside maxillary as an adjective.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Maxilla" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Maxilla"
-lla sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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