How to Pronounce Medical Words
Phonetic spellings, audio guides, and plain-English definitions for 11,239+ medical words. Free, no account required.
Medical Words
across every specialty
Brand Name Medications
How to Pronounce Today's Top Drugs
Rinvoq
RIN-voke
Rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis
Ocrevus
oh-KREV-us
Multiple sclerosis
Kisqali
kis-KAH-lee
HR+ HER2- breast cancer
Wegovy
WEE-go-vee
Chronic weight management, obesity
Mounjaro
mown-JAR-oh
Type 2 diabetes
Xarelto
zah-REL-toh
Blood clot prevention, stroke prevention
Jardiance
jar-DY-ants
Type 2 diabetes, heart failure, CKD
Otezla
oh-TEZ-lah
Psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis
About MedicalWords
The medical dictionary built for pronunciation
MedicalWords.org is a free pronunciation dictionary covering 11,239 medical words across every specialty. It was built for patients trying to understand a diagnosis, students studying for exams, and anyone who has ever left a doctor's office unsure how to say what they were just told.
Every definition is sourced from MedlinePlus, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's consumer health database. No paywalls, no accounts, no fluff.
Example Entry
Myocardial Infarction
Conditions & Diseases · Cardiology
Pronunciation
my-oh-KAR-dee-ul
in-FARK-shun
Blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle, typically caused by a blood clot in a coronary artery. Commonly known as a heart attack.
See full entry →Example Entry
Myocardial Infarction
Conditions & Diseases · Cardiology
Pronunciation
my-oh-KAR-dee-ul
in-FARK-shun
Blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle, typically caused by a blood clot in a coronary artery. Commonly known as a heart attack.
See full entry →What causes a myocardial infarction?
Usually a blood clot blocking a coronary artery, often where fatty plaque has built up over time.
How is it different from cardiac arrest?
A heart attack is a circulation problem. Cardiac arrest is an electrical problem where the heart stops beating entirely.
Simple by design
How It Works
No medical background needed.
01
Search any term
Type the word you heard or saw — a diagnosis, a procedure, an anatomy term. Over 11,000 terms across every specialty.
02
Read the phonetic spelling
Syllables split by hyphens. The stressed syllable is in ALL CAPS, so you know exactly where your voice rises.
03
Listen to the audio
Hit play to hear it spoken clearly. Every page includes the NLM definition so you understand both how to say it and what it means.
Browse by Specialty
Every medical specialty, from cardiology to psychiatry.
Cardiology
Heart and vascular system
803 words
Dentistry
Teeth and oral health
122 words
Dermatology
Skin, hair, and nails
503 words
Endocrinology
Hormones and metabolism
428 words
Gastroenterology
Digestive system
533 words
Hematology
Blood and bone marrow
443 words
Infectious Disease
Infections and communicable diseases
529 words
Neurology
Brain and nervous system
455 words
Oncology
Cancer and tumor biology
61 words
Ophthalmology
Eyes and vision
567 words
Orthopedics
Bones, muscles, and joints
1,389 words
Otolaryngology (ENT)
Ear, nose, and throat
529 words
Pediatrics
Children's health and development
415 words
Psychiatry
Mental health and behavioral medicine
201 words
Pulmonology
Lungs and respiratory system
567 words
Rheumatology
Autoimmune and inflammatory conditions
559 words
Urology
Urinary tract and genitourinary system
555 words
Browse by Term Type
Anatomy, procedures, diagnostic tests, symptoms, and more, organized by the type of term, not just specialty.
FAQs
How do I read the phonetic spelling?
Each term is broken into syllables separated by hyphens. The syllable with the primary stress is written in ALL CAPS, so you know exactly where your voice rises. For example, "myocardial" is written "my-oh-KAR-dee-ul." No special training is needed to use this system.
Why are medical terms so hard to pronounce?
Most medical terminology comes from ancient Greek and Latin, which follow pronunciation rules very different from English. Terms like "dysphagia" or "pneumothorax" follow Greek phonology, not English conventions. Once you recognize a handful of common roots, most medical terms become far more predictable.
Where do the definitions come from?
Definitions are sourced from MedlinePlus, the consumer health service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. It is reviewed by medical professionals and updated regularly. Where MedlinePlus coverage is unavailable, definitions are drawn from established medical dictionaries.
Can I use this site to study for nursing or medical exams?
Yes. MedicalWords.org works well as a pronunciation and terminology reference for nursing students, pre-med students, and anyone preparing for healthcare licensing exams. For clinical depth like dosing or treatment protocols, always rely on your course materials and authoritative clinical references.
Is the audio AI-generated or recorded by a person?
Audio pronunciations use professional voice synthesis optimized specifically for medical terminology. Each recording is generated from a verified phonetic transcription and checked against established pronunciation standards. The result is consistent, clear audio across all terms.
How many terms does the site cover?
MedicalWords.org currently covers over 11,239 medical terms across 12 categories, including conditions, anatomy, procedures, diagnostic tests, symptoms, and more. Specialties range from cardiology and neurology to dermatology, oncology, and psychiatry. New terms are added regularly.
Is MedicalWords.org free to use?
Yes, completely free. There are no accounts, paywalls, or premium tiers. You can search any term, read the phonetic spelling, and listen to the audio without signing up for anything. The site is supported by advertising.
Does the site cover rare or specialty-specific terms?
Yes. Beyond common conditions and anatomy, MedicalWords.org includes terminology from subspecialties like oncology, nephrology, gastroenterology, and more. Rare diagnoses, surgical procedures, and diagnostic tests are included alongside the terms most people are likely to encounter in everyday healthcare settings.
Start with any medical term
Search 11,239 words, from everyday conditions to rare surgical procedures. Hear it. Read it. Understand it.