3 syllables: Me, ni, sci. Stress on ni.
muh-NIS-keye
/məˈnɪskaɪ/
Menisci is pronounced muh-NIS-keye (/məˈnɪskaɪ/). It has three syllables (Me-ni-sci), with the stress on "ni". Menisci is the plural of meniscus, a crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure in joints (notably the knee) that cushions and stabilizes movement. In anatomy, the term refers to the paired, wedge-shaped discs found between bones, absorbing shock and guiding articulation. The plural form is used when discussing multiple menisci across joints or bilateral anatomy.
nounMenisci is the plural of meniscus, a crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure in joints (notably the knee) that cushions and stabilizes movement. In anatomy, the term refers to the paired, wedge-shaped discs found between bones, absorbing shock and guiding articulation. The plural form is used when discussing multiple menisci across joints or bilateral anatomy.
"The surgeon explained how the medial and lateral menisci protect the knee during flexion."
"Athletic training emphasizes strengthening routines that support the menisci to prevent tears."
"Radiographs can suggest meniscal damage, but MRI confirms the extent of injury to the menisci."
Pronunciation: MEN-i-si. Primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈmɛnɪˌsi/ (US/UK). Break it into three syllables: MEN-ih-see, with a short 'e' in the first syllable and a soft 'i' in the second, and a long-ish 'ee' at the end depending on speaker. Visualize it as three clear beats: MEN / i / see. If you’re a beginner, slow it to MEN-ih-see, then speed up. Listen to medical pronunciation models and mirror the airflow in the first syllable. IPA references: US /ˈmɛnɪˌsi/, UK /ˈmenɪˌsi/, AU /ˈmenɪˌsi/.
Common mistakes: 1) Misplacing stress by stressing the second syllable (me-NIS-ci) instead of the first. 2) Slurring the middle ‘ni’ into a long ‘nee’ or weakening the /n/ so it sounds like ‘meh-nee-see’ rather than ‘MEN-ih-see’. 3) Pronouncing the final ‘i’ as a long ‘ee’ in all contexts; typically it’s a short vowel, more toward /ɪ/ or /i/ depending on dialect. Correction: emphasize first syllable with a crisp /m/ onset, keep /ɪ/ in the middle, and finish with a clear short /i/ or /i/ close to /si/.”]},{
US tends to use /ˈmɛnɪˌsi/, with a rhotic, slightly more pronounced /ɪ/ in the middle and a quicker final /si/. UK often hedges the vowel to /ˈmenɪˌsi/ with a crisper final /i/, and non-rhotic tendencies may soften the /r/ none. AU typically aligns with US vowel quality, but may feature a more clipped /ˈmenɪˌsi/ and less vowel length. All share three-syllable rhythm, but vowel quality and tempo differ. Listen for the mid-front vowel /e/ vs /ə/ tendencies and the final /i/ duration. IPA references: US /ˈmɛnɪˌsi/, UK /ˈmenɪˌsi/, AU /ˈmenɪˌsi/.
It’s tricky because two things—uncommon plural ending and three-syllable flow—force jaw and tongue into a sequence not used in everyday speech. The middle /nɪ/ can blur with adjacent consonants, and the final /si/ may drift toward /siː/ if you’re not careful with short vs long vowels. Also, the first syllable has a crisp /m/ onset and a short /e/ that must be unstressed? Actually stressed as /ˈmɛn/; keep it crisp to anchor the word. Practice by isolating each segment and then linking them in a smooth three-beat rhythm.
A practical question: Do you pronounce the final ‘i’ with a clear ‘ee’ sound or a shorter ‘i’? In professional usage, it’s generally a short, unstressed final /i/ that can sound like a quick /si/ rather than a long /siː/. Focus on maintaining a crisp /si/ without elongating the vowel; this matches the standard medical pronunciation. IPA: US /ˈmɛnɪˌsi/, UK /ˈmenɪˌsi/, AU /ˈmenɪˌsi/.
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Meniscus derives from the Greek méniskos (little crescent), from ménis (crescent). The term entered medical Latin as meniscus, adopted into English with the plural form menisci following Latin declension patterns (-us to -i). The concept appeared in anatomical texts by the 17th–18th centuries as microsurgical and dissection techniques allowed clearer visualization of knee structure. Early descriptions treated the menisci as simple wedges; later, anatomical and biomechanical studies revealed their complex roles in load distribution, stability, proprioception, and joint lubrication. The word expanded in the 19th and 20th centuries to cover menisci in other joints beyond the knee, retaining the same morphological pattern (singular -us to plural -i). First known uses in English appear in medical dictionaries and anatomical treatises circulating in European academia, with more precise usage emerging alongside modern imaging and orthopedic research in the late 1800s and into the 20th century.
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Words that rhyme with "Menisci"
-ncy sounds
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