3 syllables: Ver, te, bra. Stress on Ver.
VUR-tuh-bruh
/ˈvɝtəbɹə/
Vertebra is pronounced VUR-tuh-bruh (/ˈvɝtəbɹə/). It has three syllables (Ver-te-bra), with the stress on "Ver". Vertebra is a single segmented bone of the vertebral column. It carries the spinal cord’s protection and forms the structural building block of the spine. In anatomy contexts, vertebrae describe the bones set in a column that supports the torso, while in plural form vertebrae refers collectively to multiple such bones.
nounVertebra is a single segmented bone of the vertebral column. It carries the spinal cord’s protection and forms the structural building block of the spine. In anatomy contexts, vertebrae describe the bones set in a column that supports the torso, while in plural form vertebrae refers collectively to multiple such bones.
"The surgeon examined a fractured vertebra to assess stability."
"Each vertebra features a vertebral body, a neural arch, and processes for muscle attachment."
"Degenerative changes can affect the vertebrae and surrounding discs."
Say VER-te-bra with primary stress on the first syllable. In US/UK/AU, it’s /ˈvɜːr.tə.brə/ or /ˈvɜːr.brə/ depending on syllable division. Start with a clear v sound, then a mid-central schwa in the second syllable, and finish with a soft brə. Audio references: YouGlish or Forvo entries for vertebra can provide native pronunciation samples.
Common errors include stressing the second syllable (veR-TE-bra) and conflating the central vowel to a pure 'er' or misplacing the schwa. Another mistake is pronouncing /ˈvɜːrtəbrə/ with a hard 'a' instead of a schwa in the second syllable, or dropping the second syllable altogether in rapid speech. Correct these by keeping strong first-syllable stress and using a relaxed, unstressed second syllable /tə/ and final /brə/.
In US English, the first syllable often carries strong /ˈvɜːr/ with a rhotic r, and the second syllable tends to be a reduced /tə/ or /tər/ depending on context. UK speakers may reduce the second syllable more, yielding /ˈvɜː.trə/ or /ˈvɜː.brə/ with less rhotic emphasis. Australian English typically mirrors US vowel qualities but may be slightly flatter, maintaining /ˈvɜː.tə.brə/ with similar rhotic presence. IPA references: US /ˈvɜːr.tə.brə/, UK /ˈvɜː.trə.bə/ approximate forms.
Three challenges stand out: the cluster br- at the end, the unstressed mid syllable /tə/ or /trə/, and the initial mid-back vowel /ɜː/ which can be unfamiliar outside the medical lexicon. The transition from the stressed first syllable to the schwa in the second syllable requires careful timing to avoid 'ver-TEH-bra' or a drawn-out second syllable. Practice with slow breakdown and IPA cues to stabilize the rhythm.
Focus on holding the /t/ lightly and smoothly into the /ə/ of the second syllable, so you don’t create a hard /t/ or a vowel-influenced break between /ˈvɜːr/ and /tə/ or /brə/. Visualize the spine syllable as VER-te-bra, with the middle syllable reduced and connected to the final /brə/. Consistent mouth posture across all three syllables helps avoid ‘vER-te-brA’ mispronunciations.
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Vertebra comes from Latin vertebra, which itself derives from the Latin vertebrae, the plural of vertebra. The root verte- meaning ‘to turn’ or ‘to bend’ is linked to the Latin vertebra, a little hinge or joint in the spine. The term is formed with the diminutive suffix -ula, indicating a small or part of the vertebral column in some Latin sources, though vertebra is the classic singular form. The word entered English via medical Latin usage, with early attestations in the 16th–17th centuries as anatomy and surgery terminology consolidated. Historically, vertebrae were first distinguished as the individual bones of the spine in anatomical treatises and medical dictionaries; the term has remained stable, with vertebrae used for the plural and vertebra for the singular. In modern anatomy, vertebra is a core term used in clinical descriptions, imaging reports, and educational texts, ubiquitously recognized across languages that borrow Latin roots in medical nomenclature.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Vertebra" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Vertebra"
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