3 syllables: Men, o, pause. Stress on Men.
MEN-uh-powz
/ˈmɛnəˌpaʊz/
Menopause is pronounced MEN-uh-powz (/ˈmɛnəˌpaʊz/). It has three syllables (Men-o-pause), with the stress on "Men". Menopause is the stage in a person’s life when menstrual periods permanently cease, typically occurring in middle age. It marks the end of fertility and is defined clinically by the absence of menses for 12 consecutive months and a natural shift in hormonal balance. The term also encompasses the broader physiological and lifestyle changes associated with aging and menopausal symptoms.
nounMenopause is the stage in a person’s life when menstrual periods permanently cease, typically occurring in middle age. It marks the end of fertility and is defined clinically by the absence of menses for 12 consecutive months and a natural shift in hormonal balance. The term also encompasses the broader physiological and lifestyle changes associated with aging and menopausal symptoms.
- You might flatten the second syllable into a quick, muted /ə/ that makes the word sound like 'men-uhs' instead of 'men-uh-PAUSE'. Correct by exaggerating the final /poʊz/ to match US use, ensuring a clear /oʊ/ or /ɔː/ vowel before the final /z/. - Another mistake is turning the final syllable into a hard /pɔz/ or /pʊz/; keep the /p/ from the onset and make sure /z/ is voiced and crisp. - Misplacing the primary stress on the second syllable or making it a weak secondary stress leads to 'men-uh-POHZ' instead of 'MEN-uh-PAUSE'. Practice with word-level stress awareness and slow drills.
"Women often experience hot flashes during menopause as a temporary symptom."
"The doctor discussed treatment options to manage menopause-related symptoms."
"Menopause can affect sleep patterns, mood, and energy levels."
Pronounce as MEN-uh-PAUSE with primary stress on MEN. IPA: US /ˈmɛnəˌpoʊz/; UK /ˈmɛnəˌpɔːz/; AU /ˈmɛnəˌpɔːz/. Start with a short, open front vowel /ɛ/ in 'men', then a schwa /ə/ in the second syllable, and end with /poʊz/ or /pɔːz/ depending on accent. The sequence is two clear syllables before the final stressed 'pause' component, and you’ll want a light, almost clipped first syllable followed by a more rounded final.
Common errors include saying it as man-uh-pause with a closed first syllable or overpronouncing the second vowel (e.g., min-uh-POWZ). Correct the second syllable to a relaxed schwa /ə/ and use a clear /poʊz/ (US) or /pɔːz/ (UK/AU) with appropriate lip rounding for /oʊ/ or /ɔː/. Practice the transition from /n/ to /ə/ to /p/ smoothly; avoid inserting extra consonants like /mɛn-uh-paus/ or /ˈmɛnəˈpeɪz/.
In US English, /ˈmɛnəˌpoʊz/ features a rhotic /r/ absence and an American /oʊ/ in the final syllable. UK and AU typically use /ˈmɛnəˌpɔːz/ with a longer, rounded /ɔː/ and non-rhotic accents; AU often keeps a clear /p/ and a slightly broader vowel. Stress pattern remains 2-syllable major with a secondary tie to the third syllable’s vowel, but vowel quality and final diphthong rounding vary. Listen to native speakers from each region to internalize subtle shifts.
The difficulty lies in the sequence /ˈmɛnə/ followed by /ˌpoʊz/ or /ˌpɔːz/ where vowel quality shifts and the final consonant cluster /z/ can blur in rapid speech. The mid-front vowel in 'men' requires careful neck-tongue positioning, and the /oʊ/ vs /ɔː/ distinction hinges on lip rounding and jaw height. People often misplace stress, say ‘men-o-pause’ with an extra syllable, or insert extra vowels. Focus on a two-syllable stalk, then a crisp final /z/ for clarity.
A unique point is the full nucleus transition from the second syllable’s schwa to a rounded follow-through on /poʊz/ (US) or /pɔːz/ (UK/AU). The /ə/ acts as a linker, preventing over-emphasis on the first syllable, which would produce a staccato effect. Practicing the glide from /ə/ into /poʊz/ helps maintain natural rhythm and prevents breaking the word into three distinct chunks.
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- US vs UK vs AU: US tends to diphthongize the final /oʊ/ as a clear glide; UK and AU use a longer /ɔː/ and slightly different rounding. Pay attention to rhoticity: in US, the /r/ is not pronounced; in UK/AU, you don’t have /r/ either in final position, but the vowel length and quality differ. Use IPA: US /ˈmɛnəˌpoʊz/, UK/AU /ˈmɛnəˌpɔːz/. - Vowels: first /ɛ/ is open-mid front; keep jaw relatively low; second syllable /ə/ is relaxed; final /oʊ/ or /ɔː/ uses lip rounding and tongue backness. - Stress: primary on first syllable; secondary on final is common in careful speech.
The word menopause comes from the Greek word men, meaning month, and pausis, meaning a cessation or pause. The term reflects the biological cessation of monthly menstrual cycles. The earliest English attestations date to the 19th century, with medical texts adopting menopause to distinguish the end of reproductive years from other age-related changes. Historically, menopause was discussed largely in clinical terms, but modern usage recognizes its multifaceted nature—encompassing hormonal changes, symptom variability, and psychosocial factors. Over time, menopause has evolved from a stigmatized medical milestone to a widely acknowledged life stage with supportive resources and public health awareness. The compound form mirrors similar constructs in other languages (e.g., French ménopause, Spanish menopausia), all rooted in the same Greek elements that denote monthly renewal and cessation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Menopause" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Menopause"
-ope sounds
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