3 syllables: Pru, ri, tus. Stress on Pru.
PROO-rit-uhs
/ˈpruːrɪtəs/
Pruritus is pronounced PROO-rit-uhs (/ˈpruːrɪtəs/). It has three syllables (Pru-ri-tus), with the stress on "Pru". Pruritus is a medical term for severe itching. It refers to an unpleasant sensation that provokes scratching, often indicating an underlying dermatological or systemic condition. As a noun used mainly in clinical contexts, it may appear in patient notes and literature describing pruritic symptoms and related treatments.
nounPruritus is a medical term for severe itching. It refers to an unpleasant sensation that provokes scratching, often indicating an underlying dermatological or systemic condition. As a noun used mainly in clinical contexts, it may appear in patient notes and literature describing pruritic symptoms and related treatments.
"The patient reported persistent pruritus that worsened at night."
"Skin redness accompanied the pruritus, suggesting an inflammatory etiology."
"Pruritus can be a symptom of allergic reactions or liver disease."
Pronounce it as pru-RI-tus, with the stress on the second syllable. IPA in US: /pruˈraɪtəs/ (or /ˈprʊrɪtəs/ in some variants); UK: /prəˈraɪtəs/; AU: /prəˈraɪtəs/. Articulate the /pr/ blend clearly, the /ɹ/ rhotic approximant, the diphthong in /aɪ/ for the second syllable, and finish with a light schwa + /s/. Audio reference: you can tap into medical pronunciation resources or dictionary audio for /pruˈraɪ.təs/.
Common errors: misplacing the stress (saying PRU-ri-tus), flattening the /aɪ/ diphthong to a pure /a/ or /ɪ/, and mispronouncing the final /əs/ as /əs/ with a heavier vowel or a voiceless ending. Correction: stress the second syllable pru-RI-tus, ensure the /aɪ/ is the genuine diphthong /aɪ/, and finish with a clipped, unstressed /əs/. Listening to medical dictionaries can help you tune the rhythm and vowel quality.
Across accents, the primary differences are in the initial vowel and the rhoticity. US typically /pruˈraɪtəs/ with an rhotic /ɹ/ and a clear /aɪ/; UK often /prəˈraɪtəs/ with a more centralized first vowel and reduced /ə/; AU tends to a closer /prəˈraɪtəs/ with non-rhotic tendencies in casual speech, but careful speakers maintain rhoticity when reading medical terms. The critical feature is the second-syllable /raɪ/ diphthong and the final /təs/.
The challenge lies in the /ɹ/ rhotic consonant in initial cluster /pr/, the diphthong /aɪ/ in the stressed syllable, and the final unstressed /əs/ that can blur into a schwa. Non-native speakers may mispronounce as /pruːrɪtəs/ or misplace stress. Practice by isolating the /praɪ/ sequence, then attach a light, fast -təs ending, ensuring the /ɹ/ remains controlled and the /aɪ/ maintains its quality.
A unique aspect is maintaining the accurate vowel height in the initial unstressed syllable before the stressed /ri/ sequence—the transition from /ə/ to /aɪ/ is crucial. You’ll hear and feel a shift from a quieter initial /ə/ or /u/ toward the prominent /aɪ/ in the second syllable. Keeping the second syllable long enough without overemphasizing the final /təs/ helps preserve the medical timbre of the word.
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Pruritus comes from Latin pruritus, meaning a sharp itch or itching. The root prur- derives from Latin prurire, to itch, with the suffix -itus forming a noun denoting a condition or state. The term entered medical English usage in later centuries as physicians sought precise language to describe pruritic symptoms. Over time, it has become a standard clinical noun, widely used in dermatology, neurology, and internal medicine. The word has remained relatively stable in form, with the primary evolution focusing on its application to diagnostic assessment and therapeutic decision-making. The strict medical usage contrasts with lay language where people simply say “itch.” The earliest documented uses appear in medical texts of the 18th and 19th centuries, aligning with the period when modern clinical terminology was solidifying. Today, pruritus is foundational in describing symptomatology, with modifiers and compound terms (e.g., chronic pruritus, nocturnal pruritus) expanding its descriptive capacity while preserving the same core meaning: an itch-like sensation compelling scratching.
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Words that rhyme with "Pruritus"
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