3 syllables: Ver, te, brae. Stress on Ver.
VUR-tuh-bray
/ˈvɝtəˌbɹeɪ/
Vertebrae is pronounced VUR-tuh-bray (/ˈvɝtəˌbɹeɪ/). It has three syllables (Ver-te-brae), with the stress on "Ver". Vertebrae is the plural of vertebra, the bones that make up the spinal column. The term refers to the individual bones in a series protecting the spinal cord, typically seven cervical, twelve thoracic, five lumbar, plus sacral and coccygeal bones in humans. It is used in anatomy, medicine, and education to discuss spinal structure and related conditions or injuries.
nounVertebrae is the plural of vertebra, the bones that make up the spinal column. The term refers to the individual bones in a series protecting the spinal cord, typically seven cervical, twelve thoracic, five lumbar, plus sacral and coccygeal bones in humans. It is used in anatomy, medicine, and education to discuss spinal structure and related conditions or injuries.
"The vertebrae protect the spinal cord and support the upper body."
"Fractures of the vertebrae can lead to serious nerve damage if not treated."
"The surgeon examined the vertebrae for alignment before the operation."
Vertebrae is typically pronounced VER-tə-brae or VER-tih-brae, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA US: ˈvɜːrt.brəˌeɪ or ˈvɜːrt.brā; UK: ˈvɜː.trəˌbreɪ; AU: ˈvɜː.trəˌbraɪ. The ending -ae is pronounced as a long A (as in 'sprae') in many varieties, yielding the 'brae' sound. When speaking, start with a strong initial vowel, then a schwa-like middle, and finish with a clear 'brae' or 'bray' diphthong depending on accent. For a precise cue, imagine saying 'VER-tuh-bray' quickly and smoothly.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress, saying VER-teBRAE with stress on the last syllable; 2) Slurring the middle syllable into a quick 'ter' or 'tuh' without a clear schwa; 3) Incorrect ending, pronouncing 'vertebrae' as 'verte-bray' or 'verte-bree'. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, make the middle syllable a light, unstressed schwa (ˌə), and finalize with a clear '-brae' (bray) diphthong. Practice: VER-tə-bray, then VER-tuh-brae, ensuring the final vowel is the long A diphthong.
US typically: ˈvɜːrt.brəˌeɪ or ˈvɜːrt.brəˌeɪ, with a rhotic r and a clear 'brae' syllable. UK: ˈvəː.trəˌbreɪ, often less rhotic influence and a more centralized second syllable, and final -ae as /eɪ/. AU: ˈvəː.trəˌbreɪ, similar to UK but with Australian vowel shifts, slightly broader vowel in the first syllable and a longer, almost monophthong middle. Emphasis remains on the first syllable across accents; the final -ae typically yields /eɪ/ or /aɪ/ depending on speaker.
It's tricky because of the multi-syllabic structure with a dense consonant cluster at the end and a vowel cluster on the final syllable. The -brae ending uses a diphthong that varies by accent, and the middle syllable often reduces to a schwa, making the flow of VER-tə-bray feel unfamiliar. Additionally, the silent or reduced vowels in fast speech can obscure the final 'brae' sound, leading to mispronunciations like 'VER-tuh-bray' or 'VER-tuh-bree'.
In vertebrae, the final -ae typically carries the /eɪ/ diphthong, so you pronounce a salient 'ay' sound at the end, but the 'e' is not silent. The root syllable 'verte' has a difference from similar words in that the 'e' in the middle is often reduced to a schwa (ə) in quick speech, yielding VER-tə-brae in many accents. The 'e' participates in the final diphthong rather than staying silent.
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Vertebrae derives from Medieval Latin vertebra, plural vertebrae. The Latin noun vertebra means a joint of a joint or a knuckle, from vivify Old French vertevre?; more relevantly, it traces to Latin vertere, 'to turn' reflecting the twist of the spinal bones around the spinal cord. The formation follows the standard Latin plural -ae pattern, yielding vertebrae as the conventional anatomical plural. Historically, the term appeared in early anatomical texts in the 17th century as anatomy advanced in understanding the spinal column. Its usage aligns with other numbered vertebrae (cervical, thoracic, lumbar) to describe distinct bones. Over time, vertebrae became a staple term in medical education and radiology, remaining stable as the technical counterpart to the lay term 'spine'. First known usage: mid-1600s in anatomical nomenclature, with precise references appearing in anatomical atlases of the period.
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Words that rhyme with "Vertebrae"
-are sounds
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