3 syllables: Pem, phi, gus. Stress on phi.
pem-FIG-uhs
/pɛmˈfɪɡəs/
Pemphigus is pronounced pem-FIG-uhs (/pɛmˈfɪɡəs/). It has three syllables (Pem-phi-gus), with the stress on "phi". Pemphigus is a group of rare autoimmune blistering skin diseases characterized by painful, fluid-filled blisters and erosions on skin and mucous membranes. The term denotes a family of disorders caused by autoantibodies targeting desmosomes, leading to loss of cell adhesion. It is a specialized medical term used in dermatology and pathology contexts rather than in everyday speech.
nounPemphigus is a group of rare autoimmune blistering skin diseases characterized by painful, fluid-filled blisters and erosions on skin and mucous membranes. The term denotes a family of disorders caused by autoantibodies targeting desmosomes, leading to loss of cell adhesion. It is a specialized medical term used in dermatology and pathology contexts rather than in everyday speech.
"Pemphigus vulgaris is the most common form and can be life-threatening if not treated promptly."
"The dermatologist explained that pemphigus affects epidermal adhesion molecules."
"Researchers are investigating pemphigus to understand its autoimmune mechanism."
Pemphigus is pronounced /ˌpɛmˈfɪɡəs/ in US usage, with primary stress on the second syllable. Start with a short 'pem' (like 'pem' in temperament), then a strong 'fi' as in 'fit', and finish with 'gus' (like 'gas' with a soft 's'). The middle syllable is stressed, giving PEMPHIGUS a rhythm: puhm-FEE-guhs. For audio, refer to medical pronunciation resources or dictionary entries that provide native speaker recordings.
Common errors include over-stressing the first syllable (pem-), which dulls the required second-syllable emphasis, and mispronouncing the center vowel as /ɪ/ in a way that sounds like 'pem-FIH-guhs' instead of /ˈfi/. Another frequent slip is softening the final /s/ or blending it into a /z/ sound. To correct, practice the middle syllable with a crisp /ɪ/ and end with a clear /s/, keeping the second syllable louder than the others.
In US English, the word carries stress on the second syllable: /ˌpɛmˈfɪɡəs/. UK and Australian pronunciations align closely, maintaining /ˌpemˈfɪɡəs/ with similar vowel qualities, but you may notice slightly less rhotacization in non-US accents and minor vowel length variation in the /ɪ/ of 'fi'. Overall, the key is the second-syllable stress and the /ɡ/ followed by /əs/.
The difficulty arises from the uncommon cluster pem- followed by -phigus, causing close vowels and consonants that may blur in quick speech. The mid-central /ɪ/ in 'fi' and the /ɡ/ before /əs/ require precise articulation, and the secondary stress shifts attention to the middle syllable. Additionally, the 'ph' digraph represents /f/ in Greek-derived terms, which may be non-intuitive for learners expecting /f/ from 'ph' in other words.
Does the vowel in the middle syllable shorten before the /ɡ/ to create a smoother transition? In Pemphigus, the middle vowel /ɪ/ is typically short and quick, preventing a heavy slide into /ɡ/. This short, crisp middle vowel helps maintain the required stress pattern and keeps the term clear when spoken in medical conversations, ensuring the mouth movements stay coordinated for accurate /ɡ/ release and final /s/.
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Pemphigus derives from the Greek pemphix, meaning a blister or bubble, from pempein meaning to swell or be full. The medical term entered English through Latinized forms in the 18th–19th centuries as dermatology and pathology disciplines adopted Greek roots to describe blistering diseases. The root pemphix appeared in ancient Greek medical texts to describe vesicles; combined with the Greek -gikos suffix forming -gous for conditions, pemphigus emerged as a labeled disease characterized by blistering. First known use in medical literature traces to early modern texts where clinicians described bullous diseases of the skin with acronyms and immunologic connotations, evolving into modern terminology as understanding of autoimmune blistering disorders expanded. Today, pemphigus specifies several diseases within a syndrome group, including pemphigus vulgaris and foliaceus, with the term maintaining the core blistering pathology label while narrowing in clinical subtype distinctions.
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Words that rhyme with "Pemphigus"
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