How to Pronounce Vertebrae
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Vertebrae Pronunciation
VER-teh-bray
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
VER
stress here
teh
bray
3 syllables
What is Vertebrae?
Vertebrae are the 33 individual bones that stack together to form the spinal column. They protect the spinal cord and provide the structural support for the torso and head.
Questions About Vertebrae
How do you pronounce 'vertebrae'?
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Vertebrae is pronounced VER-teh-bray. The first syllable, VER, is stressed and said a bit louder than the others. It sounds like you're saying "ver" (rhymes with "her"), then "tuh", then "bray" (like the sound a donkey makes).
What's the difference between 'vertebra' and 'vertebrae'?
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Vertebra (VER-teh-brah) is the singular form, meaning one bone in your spine. Vertebrae (VER-teh-bray) is the plural form, meaning more than one of these bones. Think of it like "one vertebra" and "many vertebrae."
How do you break 'vertebrae' into syllables?
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Vertebrae has three syllables: VER-te-brae. The stress falls on the first syllable, VER, which is why you say it a bit louder and longer than the middle and last syllables.
What's a common mispronunciation of 'vertebrae'?
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Many people stress the middle syllable and say ver-TEH-bray, but that's incorrect. Remember to stress the first syllable: VER-teh-bray. Another mistake is pronouncing it like "vertebray" (one syllable), which drops the middle sound.
Where does the word 'vertebrae' come from?
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Vertebrae comes from Latin, an ancient language. The Latin word "vertebra" means "to turn" or "joint that turns," because these bones work together to let your spine bend and twist in different directions.
What does 'vertebrae' mean in plain English?
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Vertebrae are simply the small bones that stack up to make your backbone or spine. They're like building blocks that connect together to give your body structure and protect the nerves running down the middle.
What other medical words use the 'vertebra' root?
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Words like cervical (neck vertebrae), thoracic (chest vertebrae), and lumbar (lower back vertebrae) all use the vertebra root. Vertebral (adjective form) means "relating to the vertebrae," like "vertebral column" (another name for the spine).
Can you use 'vertebrae' in a sentence?
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Sure! You might hear: "The doctor explained that humans have 33 vertebrae in total" or "The vertebrae are stacked on top of each other like coins in a stack."