3 syllables: var, i, cose veins. Stress on var.
VAR-ik-ohz vaynz
/ˈværɪˌkoʊz veɪnz/
Varicose Veins is pronounced VAR-ik-ohz vaynz (/ˈværɪˌkoʊz veɪnz/). It has three syllables (var-i-cose veins), with the stress on "var". Varicose Veins refers to swollen, dilated veins, typically in the legs, caused by venous valve weakness and decreased blood flow. It denotes a medical condition characterized by bulging, sometimes painful veins visible under the skin, often with a blue-purple hue. The term is commonly used in medical and lay contexts alike.
proper nounVaricose Veins refers to swollen, dilated veins, typically in the legs, caused by venous valve weakness and decreased blood flow. It denotes a medical condition characterized by bulging, sometimes painful veins visible under the skin, often with a blue-purple hue. The term is commonly used in medical and lay contexts alike.
- You might misplace stress: ensure VAR-i-coze VEINS with primary stress on VAR, not on coze. Practice by saying VAR-ih-koze VEENS in a short chant twice then slow down. - Vowel quality: varicose uses a clear short 'a' in US /ˈvær/; avoid an 'æ' or a more open 'a' like in 'father'. - Link and rhythm: avoid over-smoothing between varicose and veins; keep a tiny pause or slight breath between the two words so it sounds precise.
How to Pronounce Varicose Veins
"The doctor explained that her varicose veins were primarily cosmetic but could cause discomfort."
"She wore compression stockings to help manage the pain from varicose veins."
"Varicose veins can worsen with standing for long periods or during pregnancy."
Pronounce as VAR-i-koze VEENS. Stress on VAR- in varicose; veins is a one-beat syllable. IPA: US ˈvær.ɪˌkoʊz veɪnz, UK ˈvæ.rɪ.kəʊz veɪnz. For clarity, the first word uses a strong 'VAR' with the short 'a' as in 'bat', the second syllable sounds like 'coze', and 'veins' rhymes with 'brains'. An audio reference helps; listen to medical diction in pronunciation resources and YouGlish entries for the exact cadence.
Common mistakes include mispronouncing varicose as va-RI-kose (incorrect stress on second syllable) and mispronouncing veins with an uncertain long vowel. Correct these by keeping VAR as a stressed, first syllable with a short 'a' sound, and make the 'coze' part rhyme with 'rose' or 'hose' as /koʊz/. For the plural veins, ensure the final /z/ is voiced, not a soft 's'. Practice saying VAR-i-kose VEINS in rhythm to reinforce the two stressed units.
In US and UK accents, varicose is stressed on the first syllable with a short 'a' (US /ˈvær.ɪˌkoʊz/; UK /ˈvæ.rɪ.kəʊz/). US often turns the 'koze' into /koʊz/ and the final 'veins' as /veɪnz/. UK may reduce the middle vowel slightly to /ə/ and connect syllables a touch more. Australian tends to be closer to UK, with slightly broader vowels; note rhoticity is still present in GA, but less in non-rhotic variants. Always tune the final /z/ in veins to a clear voiced /z/.
Two main challenges: the multi-syllabic word varicose has a tricky cluster of /ˈvær.ɪˌkoʊz/ with an unstressed middle and a final /koʊz/ that often softens for some speakers, plus the cluster across two words where the first ends with /-koʊz/ and the second begins with /veɪnz/. The length and pace matter in natural speech, especially in medical contexts where clarity is essential. Practice the two-word phrase in tight rhythm to seal the cadence.
No, there is no /t/ sound in varicose; the word is pronounced VAR-i-kohz, with the t being silent in spelling but not present in sound. In the singular form, the final sound /z/ is voiced. The plural veins adds an extra /z/ at the end of veins, so the ending is /veɪnz/. Awareness of silent-letter expectations helps avoid inserting a /t/ or similar closing sound.
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- US: rhotic; pronounce the 'r' clearly in VAR and maintain a bright /oʊ/ in /koʊz/. - UK: non-rhotic or lightly rhotic depending on speaker; avoid fully pronouncing r followed by 'coze'; the /ə/ vowel can reduce slightly in varicose. - AU: often closer to UK values with less intrusive r; maintain the two-word phrase cadence with slightly broader vowels in /ɪ/ and /ə/ as needed. IPA references help anchor.
The term varicose derives from the Latin varix, meaning a swollen, knotted vein, with the suffix -ose indicating fullness or condition. Veins, from Latin vena, have been described in medical Latin since antiquity. Varicose, first used in English around the 15th–16th centuries, evolved to describe bulging veins commonly seen in the legs. Veins per se have long been studied since ancient Greek physicians; in modern English, varicose veins became a standard clinical descriptor by the 18th–19th centuries as vascular medicine matured. The concept of venous insufficiency and venous hypertension underpinning varicose veins emerged more clearly with advances in anatomy, physiology, and imaging in the 19th and 20th centuries. The term now encompasses a spectrum from cosmetic to clinically significant venous disease, often linked with pregnancy, aging, obesity, and genetics.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Varicose Veins" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Varicose Veins"
-ins sounds
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