3 syllables: Me, las, ma. Stress on las.
muh-LAZ-muh
/məˈlæz.mə/
Melasma is pronounced muh-LAZ-muh (/məˈlæz.mə/). It has three syllables (Me-las-ma), with the stress on "las". Melasma is a common skin condition characterized by dark, blotchy patches on sun-exposed areas of the skin, especially the face. It results from pigment-producing cells becoming overactive due to hormonal changes and sun exposure. The term is used in dermatology and everyday health discussions to describe this cosmetic concern and its management.
nounMelasma is a common skin condition characterized by dark, blotchy patches on sun-exposed areas of the skin, especially the face. It results from pigment-producing cells becoming overactive due to hormonal changes and sun exposure. The term is used in dermatology and everyday health discussions to describe this cosmetic concern and its management.
"She consulted a dermatologist about the melasma on her cheeks and forehead."
"The treatment plan included topical agents and sun protection to reduce melasma."
"Melasma can be persistent, but with proper care many people see gradual lightening over months."
Pronounce as mə-LAZ-mə with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US / məˈlæz mə /, UK / məˈlɑːz mə /, AU / məˈlæz mə /. Break it into me-LAZ-ma; the L sound is clear, the second syllable carries stress, and the final unstressed -ma is light. Keep jaw slightly relaxed, lips neutral, tongue tip just behind the top teeth for the initial schwa before LAZ.
Common errors include flattening the second syllable stress or mispronouncing the LAZ as LAN- or LAH-; some speakers drop the schwa in the first syllable, saying MEL-AZ-ma. Correct by enforcing the stressed MAZ as a single syllable and using a clear /æ/ or /ɑː/ depending on accent, with the final -ma as a light schwa. Practice: me-LAZ-ma with a crisp second syllable and a relaxed, short final -ma.
US: məˈlæz.mə with a more lax /æ/ in the second syllable. UK: məˈlɑː.zmə, longer open vowel in the second syllable; AU: məˈlæz.mə or məˈlɑːz.mə with slightly broader vowels and non-rhoticity, but rhotic habits can vary by speaker. Across accents, the main differences are vowel height in the second syllable and the final schwa timing. The stress remains on the second syllable.
The challenge lies in the mid syllable cluster /ˈlæz/ where Americans may use a lax short /æ/ and non-native speakers may substitute with /ɑ/ or /eɪ/. The sequence /ˈlæz- mə/ requires precise consonant clarity for the z plural-like sound and a quick, light final syllable. Also, the initial muted schwa in me- requires a relaxed, moveable jaw to avoid a strong /mɜ/.
Melasma uniquely carries secondary stress on the second syllable with a prominent /ˈlæz/ onset in the stressed syllable. The pattern me-LAS-ma is recognizable for speakers of other pigmentary terms (e.g., hyperpigmentation), but you’ll want to emphasize the /ˈlæz/ chunk clearly, ensuring the z is crisp and the final /mə/ is light. IPA cues: US / məˈlæz mə /, UK / məˈlɑːz mə /.
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Melasma comes from the Greek melas (black, dark) + -asma (a suffix from Greek -asma meaning swelling or state, often used in medical terms). The root mel- signals dark coloration, paired with a suffix that designates a condition or state. The word entered medical usage in the early 20th century as dermatology formalized pigmentary disorders. Over time, melasma broadened from a purely descriptive label for facial dark patches to a recognized clinical entity tied to photoaging, hormonal influences, and aesthetic concerns. First known uses appear in dermatology texts from the 1920s–1930s in Europe and North America, with early case reports describing hyperpigmented facial lesions in women. By mid-century, melasma was widely cited in clinical descriptions, contributing to patient education about sun protection and pigmentary management. Today, the term is common in medical articles, cosmetic dermatology, and patient-facing guides, retaining its Greek-rooted sense of dark, pigmented patches as the defining feature.
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Words that rhyme with "Melasma"
-ama sounds
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