6 syllables: Ne, phro, lith, i, a, sis. Stress on lith.
nef-ruh-LITH-ee-uh-sis
/nɛfrəˈlɪθiəsɪs/
Nephrolithiasis is pronounced nef-ruh-LITH-ee-uh-sis (/nɛfrəˈlɪθiəsɪs/). It has six syllables (Ne-phro-lith-i-a-sis), with the stress on "lith". As a noun, a medical condition characterized by the presence of stones in the kidney (renal calculi). The term denotes the disease state involving nephrolithiasis, nephritic processes, and potential obstruction or infection, and is used primarily in clinical contexts. It refers specifically to stone formation within the renal tract and is typically discussed in urology and nephrology settings.
nounA medical condition characterized by the presence of stones in the kidney (renal calculi). The term denotes the disease state involving nephrolithiasis, nephritic processes, and potential obstruction or infection, and is used primarily in clinical contexts. It refers specifically to stone formation within the renal tract and is typically discussed in urology and nephrology settings.
"The patient was diagnosed with nephrolithiasis after imaging revealed renal calculi."
"Management of nephrolithiasis often requires hydration, pain control, and sometimes surgical intervention."
"Nephrolithiasis can recur, so patients may need preventive lifestyle changes."
Pronounce it as /nə-FROH-lith-uh-AY-səs/ (US) or /ne-FROH-lith-uh-AY-sɪəs/ (UK). Stress falls on the third syllable in the stem (-lith-), with a secondary emphasis on -AY-. Break it as ne-phro-lith-i-a-sis, sounding out each part: nephro (kidney) + lith (stone) + iasis (state). Mouth positions: start with a relaxed, neutral 'ne' then a rounded 'froh' at the peak, a crisp 'lith' with the tongue at the alveolar ridge, 'i-a' as a quick glide, and a final schwa-sus in many accents. Audio reference: listen for the stress peak on '-AY-' and the clear 'lith' cluster.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (say-ing ne-FRO-lith-i-a-sis or NEPH-ro-lith-a-sis), mispronouncing 'nephro' as 'neph-roh' with an overt long O, and blending 'lith' with an intrusive extra syllable. Correct by: (1) maintaining three explicit vowel sounds in -nephro- (ne-fro) and avoiding a misleading 'ee' sound; (2) articulating 'lith' with a clear 'th' sound and a short 'i'; (3) treating '-iasis' as -i-a-sis with the long 'i' leading to 'AY' before the final 'sis'. Practice slowly with tape or mirror to ensure the 'AY' vowel is distinct.
US tends to 'nə-FROH-lith-uh-AY-səs' with a softer final schwa; UK often 'ne-FROH-lith-ih-AY-sis' with a slightly shortened 'i' before -as-is and a non-rhotic ending; Australian pronunciation resembles US but may have a more clipped 'AY' and fuller final 's' cluster. The main differences are vowel quality in -nephro- and the ending vowel before -sis; rhoticity affects the r-coloring in US, while UK and AU may be non-rhotic, influencing preceding vowels and the consonant articulation. IPA references reflect /nəˈfroʊ.lɪ.ðiˈeɪ.səs/ (US) vs /nɛˈfroʊ.lɪ.əˈeɪ.sɪəs/ (UK) and /nəˈfrɒl.ɪ.ˈeɪ.səs/ (AU) depending on speaker.
Two main challenges: the nephro- prefix with its subtle 'f' and 'ph' blend, and the -lithiasis ending which packs 'li' and 'a' in close succession, creating a triplet of syllables that can blur in fast speech. The sequence -lith-i-a- often gets reduced, and speakers may misplace stress on the suffix. Focus on a strong, clear /lɪθ/ + /iˈeɪ/ shift in the middle, and keep the final -sis distinct, not merging with prior vowels.
A distinctive feature is the three-component structure: nephro- (kidney) + lith- (stone) + -iasis (state/condition). The central 'lith' cluster followed by 'i-a-sis' can trip speakers when trying to attach the suffix quickly in sentence flow. It’s important to segment as ne-phro-lith-i-a-sis in careful speech, and to maintain a steady rhythm so the long middle syllable doesn’t collide with the trailing -asis. IPA guidance can help keep the timing accurate.
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US: /nəˈfroʊ.lɪ.ðiˈeɪ.səs/ with rhoticity; UK: /nɛˈfrɒl.ɪ.əˈeɪ.sɪəs/ less rhotic, more rounded vowels; AU: /nəˈfrɒl.ɪˈeɪ.səs/ borderline between US/UK, often with clipped final s. Key differences: -nephro- vowel quality (schwa vs. short e/o), rhotic r sound in US can color preceding vowels; -lith- is a stressed syllable with a crisp /θ/ or /ð/ depending on dialect; -iasis tends to be a long /eɪ/ before /səs/ or /ɪəs/ depending on accent. IPA cues: pay attention to the long diphthong in -AY- and the dental fricative in -th-.
Nephrolithiasis combines Greek roots: nephro- meaning kidney, lith- meaning stone, and -iasis indicating a pathological condition or process. The first element nephro- appears in medical Greek from nephros, Latinized as nephra-, used broadly to denote kidney. Lith- derives from lithos (stone), a common root in medical terms for calculi and stone-related conditions. The suffix -iasis marks a process or state, particularly disease or abnormal condition, and became prevalent in English medical vocabulary in the 17th-18th centuries as translations and coinages from Greek descriptors proliferated in anatomy and pathology texts. The compound likely entered medical English through early urology and nephrology writings that described kidney stone disease, evolving from simpler terms like lithiasis to the more specific nephrolithiasis to distinguish stones within the kidney or urinary tract from stones elsewhere (such as ureterolithiasis or cholelithiasis). The term gained prominence with imaging advances in the 20th century, reinforcing its specialized usage in clinical diagnosis and research.
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Words that rhyme with "Nephrolithiasis"
-sia sounds
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