How to Pronounce “laparoscopy”

British (UK)

/lapəˈɹɒskəpi/

noun — Examination of the loins or abdomen, now specifically examination or surgery on the peritoneal cavity using a laparoscope.

Where the stress falls. “laparoscopy” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /lapəˈɹɒskəpi/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /lapəˈɹɒskəpi/ 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 "laparoscopy" mean?

laparoscopy (noun): Examination of the loins or abdomen, now specifically examination or surgery on the peritoneal cavity using a laparoscope.

Which syllable is stressed in "laparoscopy"?

“laparoscopy” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /lapəˈɹɒskəpi/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.