5 syllables: To, xo, plas, mo, sis. Stress on plas.
tahk-soh-PLAZ-moh-sis
/tɑksoʊˈplæzmoʊsɪs/
Toxoplasmosis is pronounced tahk-soh-PLAZ-moh-sis (/tɑksoʊˈplæzmoʊsɪs/). It has five syllables (To-xo-plas-mo-sis), with the stress on "plas". Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii. It often presents without symptoms in healthy individuals but can cause serious illness in pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems. The term combines the parasite name with the medical condition suffix -osis, indicating a disease state.
nounToxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii. It often presents without symptoms in healthy individuals but can cause serious illness in pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems. The term combines the parasite name with the medical condition suffix -osis, indicating a disease state.
- You will often misplace stress or run the word together. I want you to focus on the four-syllable rhythm and keep the /plæz/ block distinct. - Consonant clusters surrounding the vowel can blur. In particular, the transition from /k/ into /soʊ/ should be clean, not an extra vowel. - The final -osis is /ˈmoʊ.sɪs/; many speakers add an extra /ɪ/ or reduce it to /sɪz/. Focus on the crisp /sɪs/ ending.
"Researchers studied the incidence of toxoplasmosis in different populations."
"Pregnant patients are screened for toxoplasmosis due to possible fetal risk."
"Immunocompromised patients may experience more severe toxoplasmosis symptoms."
Pronounce as /ˌtɒk.soʊ.plæzˈmoʊ.sɪs/ (US: /ˌtɒk.soʊ.plæzˈmoʊ.sɪ.s/). Stress is on the fourth syllable, -mo-sis. Break it into to-xo-pla-smo-sis, with a clear /ˈæ/ in 'plasm' and an unstressed first syllable cluster. Start with a rounded /t/ and sharp /k/ before the /soʊ/ vowel, then /plæz/ with /æ/ like cat, followed by /ˈmoʊ/ and final /sɪs/. See audio references for confirmation.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress, saying to-xy-gla-PLAS-mo-sis; (2) Slurring the -plasm- into one syllable or saying /plaz/ with a long /a/; (3) Mispronouncing the final -sis as /sɪz/ instead of /sɪs/. Correction: keep the -plæz- as /plæz/ with /æ/ as in cat, use /ˈmoʊ.sɪs/ for the last two syllables, and maintain the secondary stress pattern with /ˌtɒk.soʊ.plæzˈmoʊ.sɪs/.
US, UK, and AU share /ˌtɒk.soʊ.plæzˈmoʊ.sɪs/ but vowel quality shifts: US often uses an /oʊ/ in 'to' and a clear /æ/ in 'plasm', UK may show slightly shorter /ɒ/ and non-rhotic /r/ absence; AU tends toward broader /ɒ/ and a more clipped /ə/ in unstressed vowels while keeping rhotics typically non-pronounced. Core consonants remain /t/ /k/ /s/ and the stressful /moʊ/.
The difficulty stems from the long, multi-syllabic structure and the cluster /ksoʊ/ sequence adjacent to /plæz/. It requires precise placement of stress on the penultimate syllable and consistent pronunciation of the mid-palatal /plæz/ cluster before a rising /moʊ/ and final /sɪs/. Practicing the four-syllable rhythm helps prevent mispronunciation of the -plasm- as /plaz/ or /plæz/ combined with a trailing /sɪs/.
A unique feature is the /tɒk/ onset followed by a strong /soʊ/ glide and the /plæz/ cluster before /ˈmoʊ/; you should avoid inserting an unnecessary vowel between /t/ and /k/ (no 'to-xy-'), and maintain the tense, crisp /s/ at the end. Keep the exact sequence t-o-k-s-o-pla-z-mo-sis, with proper syllabic stress. IPA reference helps anchor mouth positions.
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- US: rhoticity is less relevant for toxoplasmosis, but note the stronger /oʊ/ vowels and a clear /æ/ in 'plasm.' - UK: slightly shorter /ɒ/ in 'to' and a more clipped 'moʊ' depending on speaker; non-rhotic with less vowel length differences. - AU: broader /ɒ/ and a more even vowel length; keep the final /s/ clean. Use IPA as a map for mouth positions; practice with minimal pairs to hear subtle differences.
Toxoplasmosis derives from the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, with -osis forming a medical noun indicating a disease or condition. The genus Toxoplasma comes from Greek: toxo- meaning 'arc' or 'bow' (referring to the curved shape of the organism) and -plasma meaning 'formed thing'; gondii is named after cardiovascular researcher Camilo Gondí, not a direct etymology but reflects the parasite’s discovery history. The term toxoplasmosis emerged in the 20th century as microbiology advanced in identifying parasitic diseases. The root toxo- is also found in toxemia and toxoid, while plasm- refers to formed matter. First described in the 1900s, toxoplasmosis gained widespread medical recognition with the identification of Toxoplasma gondii in the 1900s and subsequent linking to human disease by late 20th century epidemiology and obstetric clinics. The word reflects a combination of the parasite’s genus and the disease suffix, now standard in parasitology terminology.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Toxoplasmosis" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Toxoplasmosis"
-sis sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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