How to Pronounce “lithotripsy”

American (US)

/ˈlɪθ.əˌtɹɪp.si/

British (UK)

/ˈlɪθ.əˌtɹɪp.si/

noun — A treatment, typically using ultrasound shock waves or crushing with a surgical instrument, by which a kidney stone or similar calculus is broken into particles small enough to be voided or washed out.

Where the stress falls. “lithotripsy” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˈlɪθ.əˌtɹɪp.si/ 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. /ˈlɪθ.əˌtɹɪp.si/ 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 "lithotripsy" mean?

lithotripsy (noun): A treatment, typically using ultrasound shock waves or crushing with a surgical instrument, by which a kidney stone or similar calculus is broken into particles small enough to be voided or washed out.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "lithotripsy", /ˈlɪθ.əˌtɹɪp.si/, 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 "lithotripsy"?

/ˈlɪθ.əˌtɹɪp.si/ in American English, /ˈlɪθ.əˌtɹɪp.si/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "lithotripsy"?

“lithotripsy” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˈlɪθ.əˌtɹɪp.si/ 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.