Menses is the plural form of menstrual flow, referring to the monthly shedding of the uterine lining in non-pregnant individuals. It denotes the period during which blood and other tissues leave the uterus, typically lasting several days. In medical contexts, it can also refer to the overall cycle or the time frame of this physiological process.
"During her medical exam, she discussed the regularity of her menses with her clinician."
"The term menses is more common in formal or clinical writing than everyday speech."
"Researchers tracked the onset of menses in adolescents to study hormonal changes."
"Some patients experience irregular menses due to thyroid issues or PCOS."
Menses comes from the Old French mensis, which itself derives from Latin mensis, meaning month. The Latin root is mens-, associated with the concept of time or month. The term entered English through medical Latin usage, maintaining the sense of a monthly cycle. Historically, menses has been used in both clinical and lay texts to describe the monthly blood flow that accompanies the menstrual cycle. The word reflects the traditional framing of the month as a unit for timekeeping and physiological cycles. First known use in medical English traces to early modern medicine (16th-17th centuries), with ongoing usage in obstetrics, gynecology, and general discussion of female reproductive health. Over time, the term has remained formal or clinical rather than colloquial, though it appears in high-quality educational materials, textbooks, and professional conversations about women’s health.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Menses" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Menses" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Menses"
-ses sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as MEN-siz, with primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈmɛn.sɪz/. Start with a clear /m/ lip closure, then a short /e/ as in 'bed', followed by a light /n/ and a syllabic /s/ transitioning into /ɪ/ and /z/. The final /z/ is voiced as in 'zoo'. If you’re unsure, think of it as 'MEN-ses' with a quick, crisp second syllable.
Common errors include turning the first vowel into a longer /eɪ/ as in 'mainses', or merging the second syllable with reduced vowel timing, making it like 'men-ses' with a weak /z/. Another pitfall is devoicing the final /z/ into /s/, producing 'MEN-ses' without voicing. To correct: keep a short /e/ (/mɛn/), ensure the second syllable has /z/ aloud, and avoid replacing /z/ with /s/. Practice with minimal pairs like /ˈmɛn.sɪz/ vs /ˈmɛn.ses/ to feel the voice onset and voicing.
US pronunciation /ˈmɛn.sɪz/ uses a rhotic, clear /ɪ/ and voiced /z/. UK typically /ˈmen.sɪz/ with similar vowel quality but slightly less aggressive final consonant voicing in some dialects. Australian English often aligns with /ˈmen.sɪz/; vowel quality can be a touch closer to /e/ in rapid speech. Across accents, the rhyme and stress stay on the first syllable, with the second syllable always /-sɪz/ or /-sɪz/ in most varieties.
The challenge lies in maintaining the short, lax /ɛ/ in the first syllable and the voiced /z/ at the end, without letting the second syllable reduce to a voiceless /s/. Some speakers tense the mouth too much on the /ɛ/ or detach the final /z/, creating an unvoiced or clipped ending. Focus on a clean nucleus /mɛn/ followed by a strong /z/ in the second syllable, ensuring the voice carries through the end.
For 'menses,' the final letter is pronounced as /z/, a voiced sibilant, because the word ends with a voiced plural /z/ in English. The preceding vowel is short /ɛ/, and the /n/ is clearly articulated before the /s/. Your mouth should close for /m/ then quickly open for /ɛ/, keep the tongue at the alveolar ridge for /n/ and /z/. Avoid devoicing the final consonant; keep the vocal fold vibration for /z/ throughout the final sound.
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