Pronunciation of Umbilicus

Published

I don't know why this is driving me crazy but it is. I keep hearing the term Umbilicus pronounced two different ways. I would like to learn the proper way to say it or most commonly used way of saying it, or are both ways acceptable? Thank you!

My assessment professor says it almost as if it two separate words and pronounces the second i as "eye":

Um-BILL..Eye-cus

Another professor and the pronunciation key online says:

Um-bil-uh-cus

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency, LTC.

Because it's umbili-CUHL cord, I say umbiliCUS

I've heard the same for synco-PEE vs synCOPE and intest-IN vs intest-EYE-n

The world may never know🙃

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Urology.

you say tomato I say tomahto!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Oxford dictionary includes both pronunciations.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Tele; ED; ICU.

Taber's 21 includes both pronunciations though they list um-bi-LEYE-kus before um-BI-li-kus

It's kind of like sentimeter versus sauntimeter (which I personally think sounds pretentious).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion