How to Pronounce Suture
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Suture Pronunciation
SOO-cher
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
SOO
stress here
cher
2 syllables
What is Suture?
A fibrous joint found only between the bones of the skull, where jagged bony edges interlock and are united by fibrous tissue. As people age, skull sutures gradually ossify (fuse), reducing skull flexibility.
Questions About Suture
How do you pronounce the word 'suture'?
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Suture is pronounced SOO-cher, with the stress on the first syllable. The first part rhymes with 'zoo,' and the second part sounds like 'cher' in 'cherish.' Say it as one smooth word: SOO-cher.
What are the two syllables in 'suture'?
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Suture breaks into two syllables: su-ture. The first syllable 'su' is stressed and pronounced louder, while the second syllable 'ture' is quieter and unstressed.
What is a common mispronunciation of 'suture'?
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Many people accidentally stress the second syllable and say 'su-TURE,' but the correct way puts the stress on the first syllable: 'SOO-cher.' Remember that the first part should be louder and longer.
Where does the word 'suture' come from?
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Suture comes from the Latin word 'sutura,' which means 'seam' or 'stitching together.' This makes sense because a suture is a seam-like joint where bones fit together like stitches.
What does 'suture' mean in plain English?
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In plain English, a suture is a type of joint or seam—specifically the jagged lines you see on a skull where different bones lock together. Think of it like the zigzag seams on a baseball where two pieces are stitched together.
What medical words are related to 'suture'?
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Related words include 'subarachnoid' (sub- means under, and the arachnoid is a membrane near the brain), and the verb 'to suture' (meaning to stitch or close). The root 'sutur-' appears in words connected to seams and joints.
Can you use 'suture' in a simple sentence?
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Sure! Here's an example: 'The doctor showed us a diagram of the skull with its sutures labeled.' This shows the word being used to describe the actual seams on a skeleton.
Why might someone confuse 'suture' with other similar-sounding words?
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People sometimes mix up 'suture' with words like 'future' (SOO-cher versus FOO-cher), but they're pronounced quite differently. Focusing on the 'SOO' sound at the start will help you say it correctly every time.