2 syllables: tar, sal. Stress on tar.
TAHR-suhl
/ˈtɑːr.səl/
tarsal is pronounced TAHR-suhl (/ˈtɑːr.səl/). It has two syllables (tar-sal), with the stress on "tar". Tarsal refers to the bones forming the ankle joint in the foot. It can describe anything pertaining to these bones, the tarsus, or the region around the ankle. In anatomy contexts, it’s used as an adjective and noun, often in technical descriptions of foot structure and related pathologies.
Tarsal refers to the bones forming the ankle joint in the foot. It can describe anything pertaining to these bones, the tarsus, or the region around the ankle. In anatomy contexts, it’s used as an adjective and noun, often in technical descriptions of foot structure and related pathologies.
"The tarsal bones include the talus, calcaneus, navicular, and three cuneiforms."
"Ankle injuries often involve the tarsal bones or the surrounding ligaments."
"The radiograph showed dislocation at the tarsal-tibial joint."
US/UK/AU pronunciation centers on two syllables: /ˈtɑːr.səl/ (US/UK/AU). The first syllable carries primary stress. Start with an open back unrounded vowel in the first syllable, then a light, unstressed second syllable with a schwa-like ending. Tip: keep the r-sound crisp in rhotic accents but avoid over-rolling. Audio references like Forvo or Cambridge dictionary can help confirm the /ˈtɑːr.səl/ pattern.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (tAR-sal vs tar-SAL) and mispronouncing the first vowel as a short /æ/ as in cat. Another pitfall is reducing the second syllable too much, turning it into a clipped /səl/ rather than /səl/ with a light schwa. Correction: emphasize the first syllable with /ˈtɑːr/ and finish with a relaxed /səl/; keep the tongue relaxed for the final /əl/.
In US English, /ˈtɑːr.səl/ with rhotic r is common. UK English tends toward /ˈtɑː.səl/ with a slightly shorter first vowel and a non-rhotic or reduced r in some speakers. Australian English typically maintains /ˈtɑːr.səl/ with a clearer r in rhotic styles and a broad, clipped ending.
The challenge lies in the exact vowel length and the mid- to back-back /ɑː/ in the first syllable, plus the final /əl/ sequence, which requires a light, unstressed schwa and a smooth consonant transition. The two-syllable word also risks stress misplacement. Practicing with minimal pairs that vary rhoticity and vowel length helps stabilize the pattern.
A notable feature is the pronounced first syllable stress on /ˈtɑːr/ while the second syllable reduces, yielding a soft ending /səl/. Many non-native speakers lengthen the final vowel or voice the /r/ too strongly in non-rhotic contexts. Focus on sustaining a clean /t/ release followed by a rounded /ɑː/ and finishing with a relaxed /səl/.
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The word tarsal comes from the Latin tarsus, borrowed from Ancient Greek tarse, which referred to a stiff part or ankle. In anatomy, tarso- is a combining form denoting the ankle region, derived from Greek tarss after tarso “ankle.” The first known use in English dates to early anatomical texts of the 17th century, where tarsus described the clustered bones at the base of the foot. Over time, tarsal narrowed to refer specifically to the group of seven bones comprising the ankle complex (talus, calcaneus, navicular, and three cuneiforms), with tarsal as both noun and adjective in clinical descriptions. The term evolved alongside orthopedic and anatomical nomenclature, preserving its core meaning of “ankle-related,” even as imaging and surgical terminology expanded to specify individual bones and joints within the tarsal region.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "tarsal" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "tarsal"
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