How to Pronounce Iris Nevus

Say it like this: **EYE-ris NEE-vus**. The first word rhymes with "eye" and the second word sounds like "nee" (rhymes with "see") followed by "vus" (rhymes with "us"). The stress falls on the first syllable of each word: **EYE**-ris and **NEE**-vus.

Many people accidentally stress the second syllable and say "eye-RIS" instead of "EYE-ris." Remember: the emphasis goes on the **first** syllable of both words, just like you'd stress the "eye" when you say the word "iris" by itself.

"Iris" has two syllables: **I-ris**. "Nevus" also has two syllables: **NEV-us**. Put them together and you have four syllables total: **I-ris NEV-us**.

The iris is the colored part of your eye—the part that can be blue, brown, green, or another color. The word "iris" comes from Greek and originally meant "rainbow," which makes sense because the iris has different colors in different people.

"Nevus" is a medical word that simply means a small, pigmented spot or mark on the skin or mucous membranes. In everyday language, you might call it a mole or a freckle. The word comes from Latin and is the singular form; the plural is "nevi" (pronounced **NEE-vy**).

An iris nevus is a small, colored spot or mark on the colored part of your eye (the iris). It's similar to how you might have a freckle or mole on your skin—just located on the eye instead.

Other words using "nevus" include "nevoid" (meaning resembling a nevus) and "nevi" (the plural form of nevus). You might also hear "melanocytic nevus," which describes a specific type of pigmented spot. All of these words relate to small pigmented marks.

Here's an example: "The eye doctor noticed an iris nevus during the examination and documented it in the patient's chart." Another example: "She has had the same iris nevus on her left eye since childhood."