2 syllables: Pal, sy. Stress on Pal.
PAWL-zee
/ˈpɔlzi/
Palsy is pronounced PAWL-zee (/ˈpɔlzi/). It has two syllables (Pal-sy), with the stress on "Pal". Palsy is a noun referring to paralysis or weakness of part of the body, typically causing loss of movement or function. It can denote a medical condition (e.g., facial palsy) or be used in historical or literary contexts to imply weakness. The term is formal and clinical in modern usage, often encountered in medical discussions or older texts.
nounPalsy is a noun referring to paralysis or weakness of part of the body, typically causing loss of movement or function. It can denote a medical condition (e.g., facial palsy) or be used in historical or literary contexts to imply weakness. The term is formal and clinical in modern usage, often encountered in medical discussions or older texts.
- You may default to a lax, short vowel in the first syllable (like /pæ/ in cat). Aim for a back, rounded vowel /ɔ/ or /ɔː/ as in palm or more rounded versions depending on accent. - The second syllable’s /z/ can be devoiced to /s/ in rapid speech; practice keeping voicing and a brief vowel like /i/ to maintain clarity. - The /l/ in PAL should be light but precise, not a heavy lateral; keep the tongue lightly touching the alveolar ridge for a clean PAL. - In connected speech, the word can feel clipped; use a slight pause between syllables to preserve clarity, especially in careful speech.
How to Pronounce Palsy
"The patient showed signs of facial palsy after the surgery."
"Her right hand remained with palsy, limiting her ability to grip objects."
"Reports described Bell’s palsy as a temporary facial weakness."
Palsy is pronounced PAL-zee, with the primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US US: /ˈpɔl.zi/, UK: /ˈpɔːl.zi/, AU: /ˈpɒl.zi/. Start with a broad “p” followed by a short open back vowel in US/UK accents, then the “l” with the tongue at the alveolar ridge, and finish with a voiced “z” followed by a short “ee” vowel. You’ll want a clean syllable boundary between PAL and -sy, and a light, vibrating z in the second syllable.
Common mistakes: 1) Saying /ˈpælsi/ with a short American //a// as in cat, which sounds too lax; correct is /ˈpɔl.zi/ or /ˈpɔːl.zi/ depending on accent. 2) Merging syllables too quickly, producing PAL-zee without a clear boundary; ensure a perceptible pause between syllables. 3) Voicing error on the final /z/ can sound like /s/; keep the voiced /z/ and release.”
US tends to have /ˈpɔl.zi/ with a rounded back vowel and a clear, voiced /z/; UK often shows /ˈpɔːl.zi/ with a longer /ɔː/ and less rhotacization, while AU can be /ˈpɒl.zi/ with a broader, more open vowel. Ensure the second syllable uses a voiced alveolar fricative /z/ rather than a voiceless /s/; vowel quality shifts are the main differentiators.
The difficulty centers on the mid-back vowel quality in the first syllable and the transition to a voiced fricative in the second syllable. Speakers often mispronounce as /ˈpælsi/ or with a reduced second syllable. Focusing on keeping a steady /ɔ/ or /ɔː/ in the first syllable and ensuring the second syllable has a clear /z/ can reduce common errors.
A unique feature is maintaining a distinct boundary between syllables PAL and sy, with the /z/ in the second syllable being clearly voiced rather than assimilating to an /s/ or a silent consonant. The word’s rhythm is characteristic: a stressed first syllable followed by a lighter unstressed second, and a precise tongue position for the /l/ that sits just behind the teeth.
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- US: /ˈpɔl.zi/ with a more rounded vowel and a clearly voiced /z/. The first vowel is often tenser and shorter in some dialects; ensure the /l/ is light and touches the alveolar ridge. - UK: /ˈpɔːl.zi/ tends to have a longer /ɔː/ and possibly a crisper /l/; avoid over-raising the vowel to a short sound. - AU: /ˈpɒl.zi/ with broader vowel quality; keep the /z/ fully voiced and the second syllable slightly reduced in fast speech. Use IPA references to guide vowel quality and rhoticity differences.
The word palsy derives from Middle English palsie, from Old French palsie, from Latin palsus ‘lame, palsied.’ It traces to the Greek term palsis (παλ́sις) meaning ‘paralysis, stroke,’ tied to the root *pala-* meaning ‘to strand or disable.’ Historically, palsy appeared in medical contexts in medieval and early modern English to describe various paralysis conditions. In the 16th–18th centuries, it was common in both clinical nomenclature and literature, evolving into a general term for any involuntary motor impairment. As medical understanding advanced, “palsy” became more narrowly associated with neurological weakness or paralysis, with phrases like facial palsy (often called Bell’s palsy) now widely used. The first known English uses appear in medical treatises from the late medieval period, with expanding usage through 17th–19th centuries in anatomy and neurology texts. In contemporary English, “palsy” is more specialized and less frequent in everyday speech, though still common in medical writing and older texts. The term also appears in some idiomatic phrases and historical descriptions, reflecting its longstanding association with impaired motor function.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Palsy" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Palsy"
-lsy sounds
-lcy sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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