4 syllables: Sar, coi, do, sis. Stress on do.
sahr-koy-DOH-sis
/sɑɹ.kɔɪˈdoʊ.sɪs/
Sarcoidosis is pronounced sahr-koy-DOH-sis (/sɑɹ.kɔɪˈdoʊ.sɪs/). It has four syllables (Sar-coi-do-sis), with the stress on "do". Sarcoidosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the formation of tiny clumps of inflammatory cells (granulomas) in multiple organs, most often the lungs and lymph glands. The exact cause is unknown, and symptoms vary widely, ranging from mild to severe. It can affect breathing and organ function, sometimes resolving spontaneously or requiring medical treatment.
nounSarcoidosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the formation of tiny clumps of inflammatory cells (granulomas) in multiple organs, most often the lungs and lymph glands. The exact cause is unknown, and symptoms vary widely, ranging from mild to severe. It can affect breathing and organ function, sometimes resolving spontaneously or requiring medical treatment.
"Her pulmonologist suspected sarcoidosis after the chest X-ray revealed granulomas."
"She was diagnosed with sarcoidosis at age 32 and began a course of corticosteroids."
"The research team studied sarcoidosis progression over several years."
Pronounce as /ˌsɑːr.kɔɪˈdoʊ.sɪs/ (US) or /ˌsɑː.kɔɪˈdəʊ.sɪs/ (UK/AU). The stress falls on the third syllable: sar-coi-DO-sis. Start with 'sar' as in 'sarcasm', then 'coi' as in 'coil', followed by 'do' as in 'do', and finish with 'sis' as in 'sister'. Keep the /ɔɪ/ diphthong tight and avoid turning it into a simple /o/.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (speaking sar-COI-dosis), mispronouncing the /ɔɪ/ as /ɔː/ or /oʊ/, and softening the final /s/ into /z/. Correct approach: place primary stress on the third syllable, use /ɔɪ/ for the COI part, pronounce the final -sis as /sɪs/ and keep the final /s/ crisp. Practice with slow, deliberate enunciation and then increase speed.
US typically /ˌsɑːr.kɔɪˈdoʊ.səs/, UK/AU /ˌsɑː.kɔɪˈdəʊ.sɪs/. The main rhotic distinction is present in US pronunciation with the rhotic /r/ sound after the first syllable; UK/AU tend to be non-rhotic in casual speech but may retain some linking with /ɑː/ or /ɔɪ/. The /ɔɪ/ diphthong and final /sɪs/ remain consistent, but vowel qualities may shift slightly in non-rhotic accents. IPA references are /ˌsɑːr.kɔɪˈdoʊ.səs/ (US) and /ˌsɑː.kɔɪˈdəʊ.sɪs/ (UK/AU).
Two main challenges: the /ɔɪ/ diphthong in COI is less common in some languages, and the stress pattern places emphasis on a later syllable that may be unfamiliar. Also, the sequence koɪ/ 'coi' can cause mispronunciations like /koʊ/ or /koʊz/ if not careful. Focus on the /ɔɪ/ diphthong, keep the third syllable stressed, and practice the final /sɪs/ clearly to avoid trailing sounds.
Unique aspect: the COI segment is not simply ‘coi’ as in coin; it is the /ɔɪ/ diphthong leading into /doʊ/ or /dəʊ/ depending on dialect. This creates a connected, four-syllable rhythm (sar-koɪ-doʊ-sɪs). Keep tongue high-mid for /ɔɪ/, then drop to /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ for the final open syllable. This distinction helps differentiate it from similar-sounding terms in patient education materials.
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Sarcoidosis comes from Greek sarx, meaning flesh, and -oid, meaning like or resembling, combined with the Greek word eos, meaning dawn or daybreak, and the Latinised form -osis indicating a condition or process. The term reflects the disease’s characteristic granulomas that resemble flesh-like nodules in tissues. The word entered medical literature in the mid-20th century as clinicians described granulomatous diseases affecting multiple organs. Early observations linked pulmonary involvement and lymphatic spread, but the precise etiology remained uncertain for decades. By the 1950s and 1960s, radiographic and histopathological studies clarified that sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disorder with noncaseating granulomas. The spelling sarcoid- preserves the root sarco- from Greek sarx, while -idosis parallels other disease-naming forms like “neurosis” or “arthrosis,” signaling a pathological condition rather to be confused with sarcoma. Over time, as understanding progressed, the term has become standardized in medical vernacular to refer to this specific multisystem disease rather than any single organ process. First known use in published medical texts appears in the mid-20th century, with broader adoption in international medical communities in subsequent decades as case series highlighted diverse presentations beyond the lungs. Today, sarcoidosis is recognized as a diagnosis that requires clinical, radiographic, and histological correlation, not a single-pathology label.
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Words that rhyme with "Sarcoidosis"
-ise sounds
-ize sounds
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