3 syllables: Tri, so, my. Stress on Tri.
TREYE-suh-mee
/ˈtraɪsəmi/
Trisomy is pronounced TREYE-suh-mee (/ˈtraɪsəmi/). It has three syllables (Tri-so-my), with the stress on "Tri". Trisomy is a genetic condition where three copies of a chromosome exist instead of the usual two. It is diagnosed when an individual has an extra chromosome in cells, potentially altering development and health. The term is used in medical contexts to describe chromosomal abnormalities, notably trisomy conditions like Down syndrome (trisomy 21).
nounTrisomy is a genetic condition where three copies of a chromosome exist instead of the usual two. It is diagnosed when an individual has an extra chromosome in cells, potentially altering development and health. The term is used in medical contexts to describe chromosomal abnormalities, notably trisomy conditions like Down syndrome (trisomy 21).
"The patient’s karyotype revealed trisomy 21."
"Researchers study trisomy to understand chromosomal nondisjunction."
"Prenatal testing can detect trisomy conditions before birth."
Say TRI as in 'try', then -so- as in 'so,' and -my as in 'mee' with a soft 'm'. IPA: US/UK/AU /ˈtrɪ.sə.mi/. Primary stress on the first syllable. Tip: keep the second syllable unstressed and short; avoid drawing out the middle vowel. Audio references: you can listen on pronunciation tools or dictionary entries that provide /ˈtrɪ.sə.mi/.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (e.g., tri-SO- my) or elongating the middle vowel (/ˈtrɪːsəmi/). Another frequent issue is pronouncing the middle vowel as a full 'eh' /e/ or adding a glide. Correct it by landing the stress on the first syllable, using a short /ə/ in the second syllable, and final /i/ as a crisp 'ee' sound. Practice with minimal pairs or listening disambiguation in medical contexts.
In US/UK/AU, the pronunciation remains /ˈtrɪ.sə.mi/ with primary stress on the first syllable. Differences are subtle: US tends to a slightly tighter /ɪ/ in the first vowel; UK and AU often have a more centralized midsized /ɪ/ and a non-rhotic accent that doesn’t add r-color in the syllable boundary. Overall, the rhythm is 'trochee' with quick transitions, but the final /i/ is clear. Listening to regional medical dictionaries helps fine-tune.
Three-note word: the challenge is the short, lax first vowel /ɪ/, the unstressed second syllable /sə/ and the final /mi/ sequence. The sequence /-sə-mi/ can blur in rapid speech, especially with medical talk. People often insert an extra vowel or misplace the stress, producing /ˈtrɪˌsɔmi/ or /ˈtrɪszəmi/. Focus on keeping the first syllable strong, the middle vowel reduced to /ə/, and ending with a crisp /i/.
The 'tris-' onset combines an alveolar /t/ with a near-high front vowel /ɪ/ and an /r/ that can be slightly colored by following consonants in rapid speech. The following 'so' group emphasizes /sə/ rather than /soʊ/. A unique point is the short, centralized second vowel /ə/ in many dialects; ensure you don’t vocalize it as /e/ or /i:/. The final /mi/ should be a clean, light 'mee'.
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Trisomy comes from the Greek prefix tri- meaning three, and soma meaning body, with the suffix -y indicating a condition. The term was coined to describe a cellular state with three copies of a chromosome rather than the usual two (euploid). Its usage emerged in medical genetics in the mid-20th century as cytogenetic techniques clarified chromosomal abnormalities. Early researchers identified trisomy 21 as Down syndrome in the 1950s, and the broader class of trisomy conditions was recognized as part of chromosomal nondisjunction disorders. The word thus reflects both a quantitative idea (three copies) and a biological substrate (chromosome in the body). The evolution of the term tracks advances in karyotyping, FISH, and genomic sequencing, which allowed precise diagnosis, prenatal screening, and a clearer understanding of how trisomies influence development and health. Today, trisomy is a standard term in genetics, obstetrics, and pediatric medicine, used to describe specific aneuploid conditions caused by meiotic nondisjunction or mitotic nondisjunction that results in an extra chromosome in cells.
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Words that rhyme with "Trisomy"
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