4 syllables: ve, sic, u, lar. Stress on ve.
VES-yuul-uhr
/ˈvɛsjʊlər/
vesicular is pronounced VES-yuul-uhr (/ˈvɛsjʊlər/). It has four syllables (ve-sic-u-lar), with the stress on "ve". Vesicular is an adjective relating to or resembling a vesicle or vesicles; in biology and medicine it describes structures small, saclike, and membrane-bound. In geology or botany it can describe bubble-like or blister-like features. The term is used in technical, often scientific contexts and carries a formal, precise tone.
Vesicular is an adjective relating to or resembling a vesicle or vesicles; in biology and medicine it describes structures small, saclike, and membrane-bound. In geology or botany it can describe bubble-like or blister-like features. The term is used in technical, often scientific contexts and carries a formal, precise tone.
"The vesicular tissue contained numerous small sacs that resembled bladders under the microscope."
"She described vesicular lesions on the patient’s skin that required careful monitoring."
"The vesicular texture of the lava indicated rapid cooling and gas entrapment."
vesicular is pronounced vic-yooh-ler with the primary stress on the second syllable: /vəˈsɪkjələr/ in US, /vəˈsɪkjələ/ in UK, and /vəˈsɪkjələ/ in Australian English. Start with a light schwa, then a short 'sit' sound, followed by a clear 'kj' as in 'car' plus 'yəl' ending. A quick audio cue: say ve-, then crisp '-sicular' with emphasis on the middle syllable.
Common mistakes: placing stress on the first syllable (ve-SIC-ular) and pronouncing the second syllable as 'sic-kyoo-lar' instead of 'sih-kyuh-lər'. Correct by measuring syllable count (ve-SIC-u-lar) and using a clear 'kj' consonant cluster /kji/; ensure the ending sounds like 'ler' with a soft 'ə(r)' in non-rhotic accents. Practice: /vəˈsɪkjələr/.
US tends to reduce the final 'er' to a rhotic /ɚ/ in rhotic accents: /vəˈsɪkjələr/. UK often uses a non-rhotic final 'er' as /ə/ or /ə/ depending on locality: /vəˈsɪkjələ/. Australian typically mirrors UK but with slightly broader vowels and non-rhotic tendencies in many speakers: /vəˈsɪkjələ/. The middle 'kj' remains a crisp /k/ followed by /j/; stress stays on the second syllable.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster 'sɪk' with the 'kj' (as in 'kiss + cue') blending /k/ and /j/ smoothly, plus maintaining a stable schwa before the 'ki' sequence. The ending '-lər' or '-lə' requires a light, unstressed schwa plus a liquid sound. Also, keeping the secondary stress-free or subtle in fast speech challenges non-native speakers.
Focus on the sequence /sɪkj/: ensure the 's' is clear, not fused with the following /ɪ/. The 'kj' cluster should be articulated as /kji/ quickly, not as /sɪk-jʊ-lər/. The emphasis is the second syllable; practice by saying ve-SI-cules? No—vesi- (stopping after /sɪ/), then /kjə/; finally, a relaxed /lər/ or /lər/ depending on accent.
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US: rhotic, final /ɚ/; UK: non-rhotic, vowel quality a bit tighter; AU: mid-centralized vowels, non-rhotic tendency. • US: emphasize /ə-ɚ/ endings; ensure /kj/ is crisp with a clear /k/. • UK: reduce vowel length in the final syllable slightly; avoid rhoticization, keep /ə/ sound. • AU: more open /ɪ/ in the first syllable, maintain /kj/ cluster; final /ə/ is lighter. • IPA cues: US /vəˈsɪkjələr/, UK /vəˈsɪkjələ/, AU /vəˈsɪkjələ/.
vesicular derives from the Latin vesicula, meaning little bladder or sac, diminutive of vas (vase) or vas vagi (bladder). The suffix -ar evokes pertaining to or pertaining to a structure. The word entered scientific usage in the 19th century as microscopy and histology adopted precise sac-like structures to describe tissues or lesions. The root vesicula itself traces to vesus, a carrying vessel in Latin, and shares cognates with several Romance languages that describe small bladders or sacs. Over time, vesicular broadened to describe any sac-like, bubble-like, or vesicle-containing feature across biology, mycology, geology, and geology-inspired disciplines, retaining its formal tone and precise classificatory sense. First known English uses appeared in scientific journals of the early 1800s, with evolving emphasis from general sac-like morphology to specific vesicle-containing tissues and lesions by mid-to-late 19th century.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "vesicular" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "vesicular"
-lar sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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