4 syllables: So, no, graph, y. Stress on graph.
soh-noh-GRUH-fee
/soʊnoʊˈɡrəfi/
Sonography is pronounced soh-noh-GRUH-fee (/soʊnoʊˈɡrəfi/). It has four syllables (So-no-graph-y), with the stress on "graph". Sonography is a medical imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce real-time images of internal organs and tissues. It is noninvasive and relies on a transducer placed on the body, emitting sound waves and capturing echoes to form visuals. The term encompasses diagnostic ultrasound techniques used in medicine.
nounSonography is a medical imaging method that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce real-time images of internal organs and tissues. It is noninvasive and relies on a transducer placed on the body, emitting sound waves and capturing echoes to form visuals. The term encompasses diagnostic ultrasound techniques used in medicine.
"The patient will undergo sonography to assess abdominal pain.""
"Advances in sonography have improved the detection of vascular abnormalities."
"During pregnancy, routine fetal sonography provides detailed information about development."
Phonetically, it’s soh-NOG-ruh-fee with primary stress on the second syllable: /ˌsoʊ.nəˈɡræ.f i/. Break it as so-no-graph-y, emphasizing the -gra- syllable. Start with a long 'o' in 'so' (/oʊ/), then a schwa in the second syllable, then a clear 'gra-' with /ɡræ/ and ending with 'phy' as /fi/. If you’re unsure, think: SOH-nuh-GRAY-fee (though the correct reduces to /ˌsoʊ.nəˈɡræ.f i/). Audio references from standard dictionaries will confirm the stress on the third syllable in US usage, with slight variations in intonation.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (saying so-NAH-grah-fee) instead of SOH-nuh-GRÅ-fee, mispronouncing the 'ography' as 'og-raphy' with a hard 'o' sound, and softening the /ɡ/ into /dʒ/ or delaying the final /i/ sound. To correct: keep the primary stress on the 'gra' syllable, use a hard /ɡ/ finger at the transition to /ræ/; end with a clear /fi/ rather than a trailing /i/ or a silent ending. Practice saying: so- no- GRÅ- fee with crisp consonants.
In US English, stress centers on the third syllable: so-no-GRA-phy, with rhotic 'r' and a clear /ɡ/ before /ræ/. UK English often mirrors US stress but may slightly reduce the vowels in the second syllable and slightly diphthongize the final /i/ into more of an /iː/ in careful speech. Australian speakers tend to flatten vowels, with a more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and a softer /ɡ/ transition, yet keep the main stress on 'gra'. Overall, the rhythm remains three syllables with stressed mid syllable, but vowel quality shifts subtly.
The difficulty comes from the multi-syllabic structure and the cluster /nəˈɡræ/ around a similar vowel sequence. The middle syllable uses a schwa, which can blur under fast speech, and the /ɡr/ transition requires clean lip and tongue coordination to avoid blending with a following /æ/ or /ɡ/. Training the /ˌsoʊ.nəˈɡræ.f i/ sequence with deliberate timing helps prevent stumbling over the mid syllable and ensures the final /fi/ lands crisp.
Yes—the word carries a strong emphasis on the 'gra-' syllable, creating a tertian rhythm: so-no-GRA-phy. The /ɡr/ cluster requires a precise tongue blade contact with the alveolar ridge while keeping the soft palate open for a smooth transition to /æ/ and then /fi/. It’s also essential to articulate the final /fi/ quickly after the /æ/, to avoid the last vowel deforming into schwa. Practicing with slow repeats helps you lock the exact syllable timing.
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- US: rhotics are pronounced; keep a stable /ɹ/ before the vowel in the second syllable if your rhythm allows, but in many dialects, /nəˈɡræ/ remains clean and crisp. - UK: similar rhythm but vowels may be shorter and less pronounced; maintain the /ɡr/ cluster with crisp release. - AU: vowels tend to be more centralized; keep the /ɡr/ sequence intact, but allow a slightly relaxed final /i/. Reference IPA: US /ˌsoʊ.nəˈɡræ.f i/, UK /ˌsəʊ.nəˈɡræf.i/, AU /ˌsəʊ.nəˈɡræ.fi/.
Sonography derives from the Greek roots sono- meaning sound and -graphy meaning writing or recording. The combining form sono- entered medical vocabulary to denote sound-based imaging, with -graphy indicating a process of recording. The term likely crystallized in the late 19th to mid-20th century as medical imaging advanced beyond traditional X-ray radiography. Early ultrasound research explored using mechanical sound waves for internal visualization, leading to clinical adoption in obstetrics and radiology. First known uses appeared in scientific literature around the 1950s–1960s, with widespread clinical use expanding through the 1970s and 1980s as equipment became safer, more portable, and capable of real-time imaging. The word has since become a standard descriptor for ultrasound-based diagnostic techniques, distinguishing it from other imaging modalities like radiography and CT. The etymology reflects the core concept: recording or imaging using sound (sono) rather than light or ionizing radiation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Sonography" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Sonography"
-phy sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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