How to Pronounce “embolism”

American (US)

/ˈɛmbəlɪzəm/

British (UK)

/ˈɛmbəlɪzəm/

noun — An obstruction or occlusion of a blood vessel by an embolus, that is by a blood clot, air bubble or other matter that has been transported by the blood stream.

Where the stress falls. “embolism” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˈɛmbəlɪzəm/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˈɛmbəlɪzəm/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "embolism" mean?

embolism (noun): An obstruction or occlusion of a blood vessel by an embolus, that is by a blood clot, air bubble or other matter that has been transported by the blood stream.

How do you pronounce "embolism" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "embolism", /ˈɛmbəlɪzəm/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "embolism"?

/ˈɛmbəlɪzəm/ in American English, /ˈɛmbəlɪzəm/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "embolism"?

“embolism” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˈɛmbəlɪzəm/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.