Myeloma is a malignant tumor of plasma cells, often developing in bone marrow and can lead to bone damage and other systemic symptoms. It is a type of hematologic cancer that requires medical diagnosis and treatment. In medical contexts, the term is used for the disease itself and for related plasma-cell disorders.
- US: clearer /oʊ/ in LO; non-rotic rhythm with more pronounced final syllable boundaries. - UK/AU: /ləʊ/ with tighter vowels and slightly less r-coloring; final /mə/ is lighter. - IPA references: US /ˌmaɪ.əˈloʊ.mə/, UK/AU /ˌmaɪ.əˈləʊ.mə/. - Focus on reducing vowel reduction on the second syllable to avoid sounding like /maɪ.ˈloʊ.mə/ in slow speech. - Practice linking: my-uh-loh-muh, then say it quickly as MY-uh-LOH-muh.
"The patient was diagnosed with multiple myeloma after a series of blood tests."
"Researchers are studying novel therapies for myeloma to improve survival rates."
"In the clinic, doctors discuss staging and prognosis for myeloma with the patient and family."
"The case report described a rare presentation of myeloma presenting with anemia and bone pain."
Myeloma comes from the Greek myelos meaning bone marrow and -oma meaning tumor or swelling. The term reflects its origin as a tumor arising from bone marrow-derived plasma cells. Early medical literature used myelogenous terms to describe marrow-based neoplasms; over time, myeloma became the standard descriptor for malignant plasma-cell proliferations within bone marrow. The concept of a malignant plasma-cell tumor emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries as hematology advanced, with the phrase “myeloma” entering widespread clinical use in the mid-1800s and becoming established in oncology nomenclature by the early 20th century. First known usage in English appears in medical texts from the late 1800s, with subsequent refinements to distinguish from similar marrow-based diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma. The word’s evolution reflects increasing understanding of plasma cells, monoclonal protein production, and the systemic nature of the disease, culminating in modern classifications of multiple myeloma and related plasma-cell disorders.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Myeloma" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Myeloma"
-oma sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˌmaɪ.əˈloʊ.mə/ (US) or /ˌmaɪ.əˈləʊ.mə/ (UK/AU). The word has four syllables with primary stress on the third syllable: my-e-LO-ma. Start with a light “my” (/maɪ/), then a schwa-like second syllable /ə/ or /ə/, then a strong /loʊ/ or /ləʊ/, and finish with /mə/. Practice by saying: my-uh-LOH-muh. Audio reference: you can compare with speakers on Pronounce or Forvo for en-myeloma variants.
Common errors: 1) misplacing stress on the second syllable (my-EL-oma) instead of third; 2) mispronouncing the final /mə/ as /məː/ or /muː/; 3) pronouncing /ˈloʊ/ as /ləʊ/ with weak vowel length. Correction: keep strong secondary stress on -LO-, ensure the final syllable is a light schwa + m, not a full vowel. Listen to native medical voices and mimic the rhythm: my-ə-LOH-muh.
US tends to a clearer /ˌmaɪ.əˈloʊ.mə/ with a bright /oʊ/; UK/AU often realize the /loʊ/ as /ləʊ/ with a slightly more centralized vowel in rapid speech. The final /mə/ remains a schwa + m, but vowel reduction after /lo/ can make the second syllable less prominent in very fast speech. The rhotics differ: US rhotics are pronounced /r/ after vowels, which can subtly affect adjacent vowels, while UK/AU typically are non-rhotic in broad forms, influencing linking and intonation patterns.
The difficulty lies in the multisyllabic structure, the schwa in the second syllable, and the vowel quality of /loʊ/ vs /ləʊ/. The primary stress falls on the third syllable, which can be unfamiliar if you expect stress closer to the root. Additionally, medical terms often require precise articulation for clarity among professionals; misplacing stress or mispronouncing the final syllable can change meaning in clinical contexts. Practice reinforces the four-syllable rhythm and the clean /ˌmaɪ.əˈloʊ.mə/ pattern.
A distinctive feature is the strong syllable onset for -LO-, with a clear vowel nucleus /loʊ/ (US) or /ləʊ/ (UK/AU) followed by a light final syllable /mə/. Emphasize accurate vowel quality of /ɔː/ vs /oʊ/ in certain contexts, and ensure the second syllable breath release is minimal to avoid sounding as /maɪˈeloʊ.mæ/ in hurried speech.
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