How to Pronounce “pneumonia”

American (US)

/nuːˈmoʊniə/

British (UK)

/njuːˈməʊniə/

noun — An infection that inflames the air sacs of one or both lungs.

Example: He was hospitalised with pneumonia for a week.

The p is silent. Like other Greek pn- borrowings, “pneumonia” drops the p in English and begins on /n/.

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

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /nuːˈmoʊniə/ 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 "pneumonia" mean?

pneumonia (noun): An infection that inflames the air sacs of one or both lungs. For example — He was hospitalised with pneumonia for a week.

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

American English: /nuːˈmoʊniə/. British English: /njuːˈməʊniə/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "pneumonia"?

/nuːˈmoʊniə/ in American English, /njuːˈməʊniə/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "pneumonia"?

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

• Silent P words
• Medical terms