4 syllables: Ob, stet, ri, cian. Stress on ri.
ahb-stuh-TRISH-uhn
/ˌɑbstəˈtɹɪʃən/
Obstetrician is pronounced ahb-stuh-TRISH-uhn (/ˌɑbstəˈtɹɪʃən/). It has four syllables (Ob-stet-ri-cian), with the stress on "ri". An obstetrician is a medical doctor who specializes in pregnancy, childbirth, and the weeks following delivery. They diagnose, monitor, and manage complications in pregnancy, perform deliveries, and provide pre- and postnatal care. The term emphasizes expertise in obstetrics, including fetal development, labor, and maternal health.
nounAn obstetrician is a medical doctor who specializes in pregnancy, childbirth, and the weeks following delivery. They diagnose, monitor, and manage complications in pregnancy, perform deliveries, and provide pre- and postnatal care. The term emphasizes expertise in obstetrics, including fetal development, labor, and maternal health.
- Common mispronunciation: treating 'ob' as a simple 'ohb' rather than a clipped /ˈɒb/; fix with a short, quick initial vowel and a released /b/. - Mistaking 'ci' as 'si' or 'sh' as in 'city' leading to /sɪ/ or /sɪən/; correct to /ʃən/ for the 'cian' ending. - Misplacing primary stress on the second or last syllable; ensure primary stress on 'ri' (/ˈtrɪʃən/ context) depending on speaker; practice with weight on that third syllable. - Global vowel quality variations: US /ɒ/ vs UK /ɒ/ or /ɑ/; listen to native models and adjust lip rounding and jaw openness. - Over-exaggerating the 't' or blending it with /d/, causing /t/ to become /d/ in some regions; keep a crisp alveolar stop. Actionable tips: rehearse syllables ob-stet-ri-cian, use a mouth-relaxing warm-up, and record to compare.
"The hospital hired a renowned obstetrician to oversee high-risk pregnancies."
"During pregnancy, you may consult an obstetrician for routine prenatal checkups and delivery planning."
"The obstetrician explained the stages of labor and what to expect as delivery approached."
Break it into four syllables: ob-stet-ri-cian. Primary stress on the third syllable: ob-stet- 'ri-' ci-an. IPA US: ˌɒbˈstɛtrɪʃən; UK: ˌɒbstəˈtrɪʃən; AU: ˌɒbstɪˈtrɪʃən. Start with /ɒ/ or /ɒb/ with a short, clipped first syllable, then /ˈstɛt/ or /ˈstɛtr/ depending on accent, then /ɪʃən/ ending; ensure the 'ti' sounds like 'sh' before -ən.
Common errors: misplacing stress (putting emphasis on the second syllable), pronouncing 'ci' as 'si' (as in 'city') instead of /ʃən/ ending; over-syllabicating the 't' causing /t/ and /d/ blending, and pronouncing the first vowel as /ɑ/ in some dialects. Correction: keep primary stress on the third syllable in most varieties, pronounce 'ci' as /ʃən/ or /ʃən/ depending on region, deliver a crisp /t/ after /st/ cluster. Use minimal pairs and record to verify.
US tends to reduce unstressed vowels and maintain rhotics; UK often features non-rhotic /r/ and a flatter /ə/ in unstressed syllables; AU typically places light emphasis on the stressed syllable and blends /t/ with /d/ in casual speech. For the inside /st/ cluster, expect a crisper /t/ in US; UK/AU may exhibit vowel quality differences in /ɒ/ vs /ɒ/ with r-sound being less pronounced in non-rhotic accents. IPA references: US ˌɑːbˈstɛtrɪʃən, UK ˌɒbstəˈtrɪʃən, AU ˌɒbstɪˈtrɪʃən.
Because it combines an initial consonant cluster /ɒbˈstɛt-/ with the unfamiliar /trɪʃən/ ending, and the 'ci' often pronounced as /ʃ/ before -ən. The primary stress sits on the third syllable, which may surprise speakers who expect a more even distribution. The 'stet' cluster requires a precise /st/ release, and the final /-ian/ can sound like /-ən/ or /-iən/ depending on dialect. Practice with IPA guidance and mouth positioning to reduce hesitation.
The word contains a strong 'stet' cluster followed by a non-syllabic 'ri' before the final 'cian' ending; the 'ci' yields the /ʃən/ sound rather than a hard 'sh' plus 'uh' blend. The combination is sensitive to vowel length in the first unstressed syllable and the tight lip rounding for /ɔ/ vs /ɒ/ in various dialects. Focus on the /ʃən/ ending and keep the third syllable stressed with a clean /tr/ sequence.
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- US: rhotic, stronger /r/ and clearer /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ depending on region; ensure /t/ is audible between /st/ and /r/. - UK: non-rhotic? typically less pronounced post-vocalic /r/, preserve /æ/ or /ɒ/ vowel in 'ob' depending on accent; /t/ remains crisp but not overly released. - AU: more relaxed /ɒ/ and flatter intonation; maintain final /ən/ with a light schwa. IPA references: US /ˌɒbˈstɛtrɪʃən/, UK /ˌɒbstəˈtrɪʃən/, AU /ˌɒbstɪˈtrɪʃən/. - General cues: keep lip rounding consistent for /ɒ/ in 'ob' and avoid inserting extra syllables; emphasize /stet/ cluster with a clean /t/ release; ensure /ri/ is quick, not a separate vowel.
Obstetrician comes from the Latin obstetricus, from obstare meaning 'to stand before' or 'to stand by' in the sense of standing before the mother to assist birth. The suffix -ician derives from Latin -ician-, denoting a person who is skilled in a field, often medical. The root obstetric- is linked to obstetrix, the Latin word for midwife, which itself has ties to the Old French obstetrix and the proto-Germanic *stub- (to stand). The modern English noun obstetrician first appeared in the 17th–18th centuries as obstetrician evolved from obstetric + -ian to designate a physician specializing in obstetrics. The term reflects a shift from midwifery-based birth assistance to formal medical specialization, with obstetricians receiving obstetrics-specific training and board certification. Over time, as hospital-based obstetric care became standard, obstetricians broadened to manage high-risk pregnancies, cesarean sections, fetal monitoring, and maternal–fetal medicine, while the broader term obstetrics covers the field as a discipline.
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Words that rhyme with "Obstetrician"
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