3 syllables: Stra, bis, mus. Stress on bis.
struh-BIZ-muhs
/strəˈbɪz.məs/
Strabismus is pronounced struh-BIZ-muhs (/strəˈbɪz.məs/). It has three syllables (Stra-bis-mus), with the stress on "bis". Strabismus is a medical condition in which the eyes do not properly align with each other when looking at an object. It can cause sideways (horizontal) or upward/downward misalignment and may lead to reduced depth perception or double vision. The term is used in clinical contexts and describes a longstanding ocular misalignment that can be present from birth or develop later in life.
nounStrabismus is a medical condition in which the eyes do not properly align with each other when looking at an object. It can cause sideways (horizontal) or upward/downward misalignment and may lead to reduced depth perception or double vision. The term is used in clinical contexts and describes a longstanding ocular misalignment that can be present from birth or develop later in life.
"The pediatric ophthalmologist diagnosed strabismus after the child struggled to focus on toys during play."
"Adult-onset strabismus can result from a nerve injury or muscle weakness and often requires urgent evaluation."
"Treatment options for strabismus include glasses, patching, vision therapy, or surgery depending on the underlying cause."
Strabismus is pronounced STRAY-bih-zum in US and UK, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK: /ˈstreɪ.bɪ.zəm/. In careful speech you’ll clearly articulate the /eɪ/ vowel in the first syllable and the unstressed, schwa-like final /zəm/. For example, say: STRAY-bih-zum.
Common errors include flattening the first vowel to a short /e/ or /ɪ/ and misplacing stress, saying struh-BIZ-um or STRA-buh-zum. Correct by emphasizing /eɪ/ in the first syllable and keeping the /z/ sound crisp before the final schwa /ə/ or /əm/. Break it into syllables: STRAY-bih-zum, then blend.
In US/UK you’ll see /ˈstreɪ.bɪ.zəm/. The AU variant is similar but may reduce the second syllable slightly, leaning toward a light /ɪ/ or /ə/. In all cases, the initial /streɪ/ is steady; the middle /bɪ/ stays short, and the final /zəm/ ends with a weak schwa. Rhoticity is generally not a factor here.
Two main challenges: first, the /eɪ/ vowel sequence can be mispronounced as /iː/ or /ɛ/ if you’re not precise with English diphthongs; second, the consonant cluster /str/ at the start and the final /zəm/ require precise tongue positioning to avoid a muffled or slurred ending. Focusing on the diphthong and a crisp /z/ helps.
Note the initial stressed /streɪ/ with a strong onset cluster, and the final /zəm/ that reduces to a schwa in many speakers. The word preserves a three-syllable rhythm but becomes nearly trochaic in rapid speech: STRAY-bih-zum. Emphasize the /streɪ/ and keep the middle light while the last syllable closes softly.
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Strabismus comes from the Late Latin strabismus, from Greek strabismos, from strabizein ‘to look obliquely’ or ‘to squint.’ The Greek root strab-, related to strops, implies turning or bending, with the Latin suffix -ismus indicating a state or condition. The term was adopted into medical vocabulary by the 19th century, reflecting a shift from lay descriptions of eye deviation to standardized clinical terminology. Early ophthalmology texts described strabismus in infants as a failure of the eyes to move synchronously, and as ocular motor control and alignment understood better, the word gradually became the formal label for misalignment across cardinal directions. The concept of strabismus has also intersected with terms like esotropia and exotropia, which specify the direction of misalignment, and with binocular vision research that highlighted its impact on depth perception and visual development in children. In modern usage, strabismus is a precise diagnostic category used by clinicians to guide assessment and treatment, distinguishing it from broader visual disturbances and emphasizing the motor and alignment aspects of eye function.
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Words that rhyme with "Strabismus"
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