2 syllables: Tal, us. Stress on Tal.
TAL-uhs
/ˈtæləs/
Talus is pronounced TAL-uhs (/ˈtæləs/). It has two syllables (Tal-us), with the stress on "Tal". Talus is a technical anatomical term referring to the ankle bone that forms the joint between the leg and the foot; in humans, it is the large, central bone of the ankle, articulating with the tibia, fibula, and calcaneus. It is also used in geology to describe a donkey-tail-shaped talus slope of rock debris at the base of a cliff. The word originates from Latin and is used primarily in medical contexts, biomechanics, and anatomy.
nounTalus is a technical anatomical term referring to the ankle bone that forms the joint between the leg and the foot; in humans, it is the large, central bone of the ankle, articulating with the tibia, fibula, and calcaneus. It is also used in geology to describe a donkey-tail-shaped talus slope of rock debris at the base of a cliff. The word originates from Latin and is used primarily in medical contexts, biomechanics, and anatomy.
"The talus transmits weight from the tibia to the foot during walking."
"An MRI showed a fracture of the talus that required careful immobilization."
"In horses, the talus participates in the hinge-like ankle joint."
Talus is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈtæləs/. The primary stress is on the first syllable. The first vowel is a short 'a' as in 'cat,' followed by a light 'uh' syllable. You’ll place the tongue high in the front of the mouth for the /æ/ and finish with a soft /əs/ ending. Audio resources like Pronounce or Forvo can give you a hearing reference: listen for the crisp /t/ release and the light, unstressed final /s/.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress (thinking it’s on the second syllable) and elongating the final vowel into /æ/ or /eɪ/, or adding a vowel after the final /s/. Correct approach: keep the final /əs/ light, with a quick, unstressed second syllable. Another frequent error is pronouncing a hard /z/ sound at the end; the end is simply /əs/ or /əs/ depending on accent. Practice with minimal pairs like 'talus' vs 'tall us' to fix these. Use a mirror to ensure tongue is low for /æ/ and relax jaw before the /s/.
In US, UK, and AU, /ˈtæləs/ remains very similar: two syllables with primary stress on the first, ending in a clear /əs/. The difference lies in vowel quality and rhoticity: US tends toward a slightly more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable, while UK tends to a crisper /ə/ with subtle non-rhotic influence for related words. Australian speakers typically produce the same two-syllable pattern, with a slightly more open jaw in the first vowel, giving a more open /æ/ and a shorter, clipped /əs/.
Two main challenges: the short, high-front vowel /æ/ can be tricky for non-native speakers who default to /eɪ/ or /æɪ/; and the final /əs/ requires light, almost syllabic /s/ without a drawn-out vowel. The blend of a stressed first syllable and a weak second syllable makes the rhythm feel abrupt. Focus on keeping the second syllable unstressed and reducing any trailing voicing on /s/.
Yes. The word has primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈtæləs/. The key pattern is the short, lax vowel /æ/ in the first syllable followed by a weak, nearly schwa-like /ə/ in the second syllable, ending with a voiceless /s/. This combination—strong initial vowel, weak final syllable, light /s/—is the distinctive profile you should train your ear and mouth to reproduce.
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Talus comes from the Latin talus meaning ankle bone or ankle joint, derived from the Proto-Italic root tal- or talo-, which is related to a wedge or cutting edge, reflecting the bone's role as a hinge in the ankle. The term appears in medical Latin through the Renaissance when anatomy terminology burgeoned in Europe. Its first known use in English medical texts dates to the 17th century as anatomists codified the bones of the foot and ankle; the word solidified as a precise descriptor for the ankle bone that articulates with the tibia and fibula superiorly and the calcaneus inferiorly. The broader sense of talus in geology (a slope of rock debris) emerged later, borrowing the term from its Latin root to describe a pile of rock fragments at a slope’s base, resembling a talus in structure—though the geological sense is etymologically linked by metaphor rather than direct anatomical origin.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Talus" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Talus" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Talus" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Talus"
-ous sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
