4 syllables: Rhi, no, plas, ty. Stress on plas.
reye-noh-PLAS-tee
/ˌɹaɪnoʊˈplæˌsti/
Rhinoplasty is pronounced reye-noh-PLAS-tee (/ˌɹaɪnoʊˈplæˌsti/). It has four syllables (Rhi-no-plas-ty), with the stress on "plas". Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure to reshape the nose for aesthetic or functional reasons. It involves altering bone, cartilage, and skin to achieve the desired contour, symmetry, or breathing improvement. The term combines ‘rhin/o-’ (nose) with ‘-plasty’ (forming or molding).
nounRhinoplasty is a surgical procedure to reshape the nose for aesthetic or functional reasons. It involves altering bone, cartilage, and skin to achieve the desired contour, symmetry, or breathing improvement. The term combines ‘rhin/o-’ (nose) with ‘-plasty’ (forming or molding).
"The patient chose rhinoplasty to correct a prominent nasal hump."
"She consulted multiple surgeons before scheduling rhinoplasty."
"Rhinoplasty requires careful preoperative evaluation and imaging."
Break it into four syllables: ri-no-plas-y. IPA: US /ˌraɪˈnɒləˌdʒi/ or /ˌraɪˈnæləˌdʒi/. Emphasize the second syllable: ri-NOL-uh-jy. Start with ‘rye’ then an unstressed -noh- then ‘luh’ then ‘jee’; the 'pl' cluster after the vowel sounds as /pl/ before the /ə/ or /ɪ/ sound. Mouth: raise the tongue for /aɪ/ then drop to /ɒ/ or /ɒl/ for the middle, then lip-round slightly for /o/ in some variants before finishing with /dʒi/. Audio reference: consult medical pronunciation resources or dictionaries with a clear slow read.
Two frequent errors: misplacing stress (treating it as ri-NAH-la-dʒi) and mispronouncing the /dʒ/ as /ʒ/ or /dʒ/ incorrectly. Correct approach: maintain secondary stress on the second syllable, pronounce /nə/ or /nə/ with a clear schwa, and cluster /dʒ/ clearly as in judge. Practice minimal pair drills with /ˈnoʊlə/ vs /ˈnɒlə/ to set the middle vowel. Use slow repetition to lock in the rhythm and reduce vowel reduction in the unstressed syllables.
In US English, you’ll often hear /ˌraɪˈnɒləˌdʒi/ with a non-rhotic undertone in some regions and distinct /ɒ/ vs /ɒl/ vowels. UK speakers typically use /ˌraɪˈnɒləˌdʒi/ with sharper /ɒ/ vowels and less rhoticity; AU English tends toward /ˌraɪˈnɒləˌdʒi/ with broader vowels and a lightly rolled /r/ or approximant depending on speaker. Across all, the /dʒ/ in -ology final is consistent; the main variation is vowel quality and rhoticity. Refer to IPA for precise transcription per speaker and region.
It blends a complex nasal root with a less common -plasty suffix, creating multiple consonant clusters (n-l-ɟ or n-l-dʒ) and a multi-syllable rhythm. The /ɪ/ vs /ɒ/ distinction in the middle syllable is subtle, and English speakers often reduce vowels or stress the wrong syllable. Clear articulation of the /r/ (in non-rhotic accents) and the /dʒ/ sound at the end requires careful tongue positioning and jaw alignment. Slow practice with IPA cues helps stabilize the flow.
The suffix -plasty produces a /pl/ cluster immediately after a stressed syllable with a relatively light schwa in the middle. The consonant cluster /pl/ followed by /ə/ or /ɪ/ can slip in rapid speech, causing mispronunciation of the -oplasty ending. Focus on keeping the /pl/ tightly linked, maintaining a clean transition from the 'n' to the /ɔ/ or /ɒ/ vowel, then articulate /dʒi/ clearly at the end. Practicing with controlled tempo helps.
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- US: /ˌraɪˈnɒləˌdʒi/ with less rhoticity in some regions; emphasize /raɪ/ and /ˈnɒl/ while keeping /dʒi/ crisp. - UK: /ˌraɪˈnɒləˌdʒi/ with strong non-rhotic r, clearer /ɒ/ vowels; keep the middle vowel stable and avoid vowel lengthening. - AU: /ˌraɪˈnɒləˌdʒi/ with a broader vowel quality and a lighter r; ensure /pl/ cluster is tight and the /dʒ/ is audible. General: maintain the four-syllable rhythm, avoid vowel reduction in stressed syllables, and keep the /n/ clear before /l/. IPA anchors: /ˌraɪˈnɒləˌdʒi/ or /ˌraɪˈnæləˌdʒi/ depending on speaker.
Rhinoplasty derives from the Greek rhis/rhin- meaning nose, and -plasty from the Greek plastos meaning formed or molded. The combining form rhin- has variants in medical terms such as rhino- and rhinal, reflecting classical usage in anatomy. The suffix -plasty appears in many surgical terms indicating repair or reshaping, such as angioplasty or otoplasty. The word entered English usage in the late 19th to early 20th century with the rise of modern cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, aligning with broader medical neologisms that fuse Greek roots for precision. Early usages described nasal reconstruction following injury or congenital issues, while later contexts emphasize cosmetic remodeling. Over time, rhinoplasty has become a common clinical term, widely understood in both medical and lay communities, and it appears across peer-reviewed literature, clinical protocols, and popular media discussing nasal aesthetics and function.
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Words that rhyme with "Rhinoplasty"
-sty sounds
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