2 syllables: Sca, bies. Stress on Sca.
SKAY-beez
/ˈskeɪbiːz/
Scabies is pronounced SKAY-beez (/ˈskeɪbiːz/). It has two syllables (Sca-bies), with the stress on "Sca". Scabies is a contagious skin condition caused by tiny mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) that burrow into the skin, triggering intense itching and a pimple-like rash. It spreads through close personal contact or shared items. Proper treatment relieves symptoms and prevents transmission, though diagnosis can require medical confirmation and timely management is advised.
nounScabies is a contagious skin condition caused by tiny mites (Sarcoptes scabiei) that burrow into the skin, triggering intense itching and a pimple-like rash. It spreads through close personal contact or shared items. Proper treatment relieves symptoms and prevents transmission, though diagnosis can require medical confirmation and timely management is advised.
- Common mistakes in practice: 1) Shortening the second syllable /biː/ to /bɪ/ or /bi/; 2) Misplacing stress, saying /ˈskəbiz/ with flat stress; 3) De-voicing the final /z/ to /s/ in fast speech. Corrections: rehearse slow with IPA, exaggerate the /iː/ in second syllable, and voice the final /z/ clearly. Use minimal pairs like /ˈskæbiːz/ vs /ˈskæbəz/ to feel the difference. Record yourself and compare with a dictionary audio. Encourage deliberate practice so you can maintain the long vowel even when moving to faster pace.
"The doctor diagnosed her with scabies after the rash appeared on her wrists and fingers."
"Scabies is highly contagious in crowded living conditions, so rapid treatment is essential."
"She followed the prescribed cream regimen to eradicate the mites causing her scabies."
Say it as /ˈskæbiːz/. Start with /sk/ as in skin, then /æ/ like ask, followed by /biː/ with a long E, and end with /z/. The stress sits on the first syllable: SKA-beez. Tip: keep the /æ/ short and avoid turning the second syllable into /bɪz/. Audio reference you can check: standard dictionaries and pronunciation apps often provide the native pronunciation with an example word like ‘cat’ for /æ/ and ‘bee’ for /biː/.
Common mistakes: 1) Pronouncing the second syllable as /bɪz/ (short i) instead of /biː/; 2) Softening the /æ/ to a more neutral /ə/ under fast speech; 3) Dropping the final /z/ or turning it into /s/. Correction: keep /æ/ as in cat, lengthen the /iː/ to a clear long E, and voice the final /z/ clearly. Practice with minimal pairs: /ˈskæbiːz/ vs /ˈskəbiːz/ to lock the vowel and /z/.
US/UK/AU share /ˈskæbiːz/ with final /z/. Minor differences: US often maintains vowel length in /æ/ slightly tenser; UK and AU may have a marginally more centralized /æ/ depending on speaker. All three are rhotic-free in onomatopoeic contexts but the /z/ remains voiced. In fast speech, some speakers may reduce the second syllable vowel slightly, but avoid /ˈskæbɪz/ by keeping the long /iː/.
The difficulty lies in maintaining the long /iː/ in the second syllable while preserving the short /æ/ in the first and the final voiced /z/. Non-native speakers often misplace stress or mispronounce /æ/ as /ə/. Another challenge is the cluster /sk/ at word onset and keeping the final /z/ voiced in rapid speech. Focus on sustaining the second syllable’s length and the final voicing through careful lip- and tongue-positioning.
Note the second syllable carries a long vowel /iː/ which can be easily shortened in casual speech; ensure your tongue high for /i/ and keep lips spread slightly for the /iː/ vowel. The onset /sk/ requires a quick, unaspirated release from the alveolar ridge, and you terminate with a clear /z/ rather than /s/. Practicing with a mirror shows you can sustain the long /iː/ even as the final /z/ lands.
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- US: /ˈskæbiːz/, rhotic pressing and crisp final /z/; UK: /ˈskæbiːz/ with slightly tighter /æ/ and less vowel reduction; AU: /ˈskæbiːz/ similar to US but with broader vowel qualities and occasional softer /æ/ in some regions. Vowel differences: US tends to open /æ/ more; UK may center /æ/ slightly; AU often closer to /æ/ but influenced by nearby /e/. Consonants: final /z/ can be slightly syllabic in some dialects. IPA anchors: /ˈskæbiːz/ across accents. Practical tips: maintain long /iː/ in second syllable; keep /sk/ cluster tight; voice the final /z/ distinctly.
Scabies originates from the Latin word scabere, meaning to scratch, reflecting the intense itching associated with the condition. The modern term entered English via late Latin and Old French adaptations in the medieval and early modern periods, aligning with medical descriptions of skin disease and parasitic infestation. The disease has been recognized since antiquity, with early medical literature describing a itchy, contagious rash believed to be caused by mite-like agents. Over the centuries, the understanding evolved from a general “mange” of animals and humans to a specific protozoan-like etiology, though true mites were identified only in the 17th-19th centuries. The 17th-century physician Giovanni Maria Lancisi and later dermatologists documented scabies and its transmission dynamics. In contemporary medicine, scabies is classified under ectoparasitic infections, with diagnostic guidelines, standard treatments (permethrin, ivermectin), and public health controls, particularly for crowded living situations. First known use in English citations appears in early modern medical texts, with widespread adoption in the 18th and 19th centuries as international travel increased and outbreaks highlighted the need for standardized diagnosis and treatment.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Scabies" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Scabies"
-ies sounds
-rd) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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