2 syllables: Pu, bis. Stress on Pu.
PYOO-bis
/ˈpjuːbɪs/
Pubis is pronounced PYOO-bis (/ˈpjuːbɪs/). It has two syllables (Pu-bis), with the stress on "Pu". Pubis is one of the paired pubic bones forming the anterior part of the pelvis. In anatomy contexts it refers specifically to the horizontal front portion of the hip bones (pubic body) and the nearby structures. The term is used in medical descriptions and discussions of pelvic structure and alignment.
nounPubis is one of the paired pubic bones forming the anterior part of the pelvis. In anatomy contexts it refers specifically to the horizontal front portion of the hip bones (pubic body) and the nearby structures. The term is used in medical descriptions and discussions of pelvic structure and alignment.
"The pubis is fused to the other pelvic bones in adulthood."
"During the ultrasound, the pubis angle was measured for pelvic assessment."
"Anatomy students memorize the pubis as part of the innominate bone."
You pronounce it as PJOO-bis (phonetically /ˈpjuzɪs/ US, with a slightly closer first vowel in UK). The stress is on the first syllable. In careful speech you’ll hear an initial 'pj' cluster that begins with a bilabial P followed by a palatal approximant /j/ so it sounds like 'pyoo-' before the 'bis' ending. For audio reference, think of the first syllable like 'pew' but with a /j/ glide added, then a clear 'bis'.
Common errors include: misplacing the /j/ so it sounds like 'pub-is' with a hard y or exo-sounding; omitting the /j/ altogether (saying /ˈpusɪs/); and misplacing the stress or reducing the first syllable too much. Correction: keep the /j/ as a quick glide after /p/ (pj), ensure the first vowel is a rounded /u/ quality, and maintain initial stress. Practice slowly: /ˈpjuzɪs/ and then speed up without losing the glide.
In US English, /ˈpjuzɪs/ with a strong /ˈpj/ onset and an almost unstressed ending. UK English aligns closely but may show a slightly promoted vowel in the first syllable and less rhoticity impact here since the word ends in /s/. Australian tends to be close to US, with subtle vowel length differences and a crisp final /s/. The rhotic status does not dramatically alter this word, but vowel quality and syllabic reduction can shift subtly in connected speech.
The difficulty comes from the initial /pj/ cluster—many speakers attempt to simplify to /p/ or mispronounce the /j/ as a separate consonant. Also, the combination of a close front vowel in /ju/ and a rapid /z/ before /ɪ/ can trip learners up in fast speech. Finally, the lack of common cognates with English makes it less intuitive than other anatomical terms; practice the glide as a single unit and maintain the stress on the first syllable.
Pubis uniquely combines a bilabial /p/ with a palatal /j/ glide, forming the /pj/ onset that requires precise articulation of a quick y-glide directly after /p/. The word’s vowel is short /u/ in many dialects, and the final /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative. The exact quality of the /u/ and the speed of the glide can affect intelligibility, especially for non-native speakers. IPA focus helps you sharpen the initial transition.
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Pubis comes from Latin pubis, meaning ’the adult male or man’s’ or more generally the ‘pubic region.’ The Latin pubis derives from a Proto-Italic root *pub- or *puboi-, connected with maturity and adult life. In anatomical usage, the term identified the anterior portion of the pelvic bone, contrasting with its other parts (ilium, ischium). The word appears in late Latin medical texts as pubis to denote the anterior pubic bone, later standardized in European anatomy vocabularies and subsequently adopted in English medical nomenclature. First known uses appear in medieval and early modern anatomy treatises that codified pelvic bone names, with continued refinement through the 18th–19th centuries as contemporary osteology formalized pelvic girdle anatomy. Over time, pubis became the conventional term for the anterior ramus and body of the pubic bone, distinct from the superior pubic ramus and inferior ramus, which helped describe precise pelvic architecture and clinical anatomy.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Pubis" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Pubis" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Pubis"
-sis sounds
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