2 syllables: Meas, les. Stress on Meas.
MEE-zuhlz
/ˈmizəlz/
Measles is pronounced MEE-zuhlz (/ˈmizəlz/). It has two syllables (Meas-les), with the stress on "Meas". Measles is a contagious viral infection marked by fever, cough, and a distinctive red rash that spreads across the body. It is preventable by vaccination and can be serious, especially in young children. The term refers specifically to the disease, not the vaccine or related conditions, and is used primarily in medical and public-health contexts.
nounMeasles is a contagious viral infection marked by fever, cough, and a distinctive red rash that spreads across the body. It is preventable by vaccination and can be serious, especially in young children. The term refers specifically to the disease, not the vaccine or related conditions, and is used primarily in medical and public-health contexts.
"The outbreak was traced to unimmunized children who contracted measles."
"Public health officials urged parents to vaccinate to prevent measles outbreaks."
"He recovered fully after a episode of measles and supportive care."
Measles is pronounced as /ˈmiː.zəlz/. Primary stress is on the first syllable: MEE-zuls. The first vowel is a long “ee” sound, the second syllable uses a schwa, and the final “s” is voiced. Think of “meas” as similar to “mease” in “please” but with a light, unstressed second syllable. IPA: /ˈmiːzəlz/; US/UK/AU share this pronunciation. You can listen to it in medical pronunciation videos or dictionary audio examples.
Two common mistakes are pronouncing the second syllable as a full vowel like ‘ee’ in ‘me’ instead of a weak schwa, and muting the final z sound. Correct these by: (1) keeping the second syllable as a quick /ə/ or /əl/ (not /iː/), (2) voicing the final /z/ clearly rather than turning it into /s/. Practice with minimal pairs like measles/meals (different vowel quality) and measles/measure (rhythmic emphasis).
Across US, UK, and AU, the core /ˈmiːzəlz/ remains, but rhoticity matters: US tends to pronounce /r/ nowhere in measles, similar to UK. Vowel duration and quality can shift slightly; UK often has a quicker, crisper /ə/ in the second syllable; AU is similar to UK/US but may be softer with less enunciation in casual speech. Overall differences are subtle; the primary vowel /iː/ and final /z/ are consistent across accents.
Key challenges are the long /iː/ in the first syllable and the /zəl/ cluster in the second, which requires a quick schwa before the /l/ and a voiced /z/ before final /z/. The sequence /zi/ in rapid speech can blur; maintain distinct vowel length and ensure the /z/ is clearly voiced rather than devoiced or replaced with /s/. Position your tongue high for /iː/ and relax the jaw for the schwa before /z/ and /l/.
Measles has a two-syllable rhythm where the primary stress sits on the first syllable, followed by a weak second syllable that must not be swallowed. A common unique feature is elongating the first vowel slightly in careful speech to avoid a rushed, clipped start, then moving quickly into the schwa in the second syllable. Practicing with a slow tempo helps you maintain consistent pitch and avoid a slurred /z/.
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Measles comes from Middle English measeles, from old French measle, and from Latin masella meaning ‘a blemish or spot.’ The root is linked to meas, a word denoting a kind of herb or a spoilage blemish historically used to describe skin blemishes; later, the term narrowed to the disease caused by the measles virus. The first known use in English dates back to the 14th century, though medical understanding evolved significantly in the 18th and 19th centuries as vaccination and virology advanced. Over time, the word shifted from a generic “blemish” or skin rash descriptor to the specific pediatric infectious disease we identify today as measles. In many modern medical curricula, measles is tightly associated with public-health campaigns and immunization histories, which has influenced both common usage and clinical terminology. The term’s evolution reflects broader shifts in epidemiology, zoonotic awareness, and the standardization of disease naming in English-speaking medical literature.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Measles" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Measles" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Measles"
-les sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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