4 syllables: Psor, i, as, is. Stress on i.
sur-EYE-uh-suhs
/sɚˈaɪəsəs/
Psoriasis is pronounced sur-EYE-uh-suhs (/sɚˈaɪəsəs/). It has four syllables (Psor-i-as-is), with the stress on "i". Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by red, scaly patches that commonly affect the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back. It can be itchy or painful and tends to wax and wane with flare-ups and remissions. The term denotes an autoimmune- driven process involving skin cell turnover abnormalities.
nounPsoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by red, scaly patches that commonly affect the elbows, knees, scalp, and lower back. It can be itchy or painful and tends to wax and wane with flare-ups and remissions. The term denotes an autoimmune- driven process involving skin cell turnover abnormalities.
"Her dermatologist diagnosed psoriasis after observing plaques on her elbows."
"She manages psoriasis with a combination of topical treatments and lifestyle changes."
"Psoriasis can have a significant impact on self-esteem and daily activities."
Pronounce as /ˌsɔːrɪˈaɪəsɪs/ in US and /ˌsɔːrɪˈaɪəsɪs/ in UK typically, with the stress on the third syllable: so-ree-AY-uh-sis. Start with a soft /s/ after the initial silent-like /p/ cluster: the “ps” commonly yields an /s/ sound, then ‘or’ as in shore, ‘i’ as a long I, followed by ‘a’ as schwa, and end with ‘sis’.” Audio reference: consult standard dictionaries and reputable pronunciation guides for listening cues.
Common errors include over-pronouncing the initial 'ps' as /p/ or /ps/ instead of /s/, and misplacing the stress on the wrong syllable (often stressing the second or first). Another mistake is misrendering the middle /ɔːr/ as /ɒ/ or conflating the /aɪ/ with /iː/. Correct approach: start with /s/ and the /ɔːr/ as in ‘store’, then emphasize the /aɪ/ before the final /əsɪs/.”
In US/UK/AU you’ll hear similar core sounds, but rhoticity matters: US usually rhymes with 'shore-eye-uh-sis' with strong rhotic vowel in /ɔːr/; UK tends to lighter /ɔː/ and sharper /ɪ/ in the middle; AU often similar to US but with a flatter vowels and less pronounced /r/ in non-rhotic contexts. All share the /ˌsɔːrɪˈaɪəsɪs/ skeleton but pronunciation of /ɔːr/ and /r/ varies subtly by region.
It combines a tricky initial consonant cluster (ps- yielding /s/), a long middle vowel /ɔːr/ and a rising /aɪ/ before a final /əsɪs/, with stress on the third syllable. Non-native speakers also misplace syllables or blur the i-syllable, and some mistakenly pronounce /p/ or insert extra syllables. Focus on preserving the /ɔːr/ sequence, and place main stress on the syllable before the -a-: so-ri-AY-uh-sis.
A key quirk is the ‘ps’ leading consonant cluster that usually yields an /s/ sound rather than /ps/ in careful speech; many learners forget to de-emphasize the /p/. The main stress pattern is complex: secondary stress falls on the 'ri' syllable in many pronunciations, with the primary emphasis on the 'ai' syllable. Paying attention to the syllable division helps accuracy.
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Psoriasis derives from the Greek psōra (psora) meaning plague, and -iasis, a suffix used in medical terms to denote a condition or illness. The root traces to psōra, linked historically to skin disease in ancient medical texts. The term appeared in English in the 18th or early 19th century as medical understanding of skin disorders evolved. Over time, psoriasis came to specify a chronic, autoimmune-mediated keratinocyte proliferation disorder characterized by erythematous plaques with silvery scales. The word’s evolution mirrors dermatology’s shift from humoral-age disease labels to precise immune-mediated conditions, with first known usage in medical literature around the 1800s, though earlier clinicians described analogous skin afflictions. Today, psoriasis is recognized as a diverse spectrum of phenotypes, including plaque psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, and pustular forms, reflecting advances in immunopathology and targeted therapies.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Psoriasis" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Psoriasis"
-sis sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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