How to Pronounce Measles
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Measles Pronunciation
MEE-zelz
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
MEE
stress here
zelz
2 syllables
What is Measles?
Measles is an infectious disease caused by a virus. It spreads easily from person to person. It causes a blotchy red rash. The rash often starts on the head ...
Definition sourced from MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
Questions About Measles
How do you pronounce the word 'measles'?
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Measles is pronounced MEE-zelz. Say it like you're saying the word "mee" (rhymes with "bee") and then add "zelz" at the end. The stress falls on the first syllable, so you emphasize the "MEE" part and say the second part more quickly.
How many syllables does 'measles' have?
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Measles has two syllables: MEA-SLES. You can break it into "mea" (sounds like "mee") and "sles" (sounds like "zelz").
What is the most common mispronunciation of 'measles'?
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Many people stress the second syllable by accident, saying mee-ZEL-uz or mee-ZELZ with emphasis on the wrong part. The correct way is to stress the first syllable strongly: MEE-zelz, with less emphasis on the "zelz" part.
Is there an abbreviation for measles?
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Measles is sometimes abbreviated as M when it appears in "MMR" (the MMR vaccine), which stands for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. The abbreviation MMR is pronounced letter-by-letter: M-M-R.
What does the word 'measles' mean in plain English?
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Measles is the everyday name for a contagious illness that causes fever and a distinctive rash. There isn't really a simpler way to say it—people just call it measles, not by any other common name in English.
Are 'measles' and 'German measles' the same thing?
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No—measles and German measles are two different diseases. German measles is actually rubella, which is a different virus. Both words use "measles," but they are not the same condition.
How do you use 'measles' correctly in a sentence?
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You can say: "She was diagnosed with measles last week." Or: "The doctor explained what measles is to the parents." Measles is usually treated as a singular noun, even though it ends in an 's'—you wouldn't say "measles are" in most cases.
Why is the word spelled with an 's' at the end if it's one disease?
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The word measles comes from old English and Middle Dutch origins and has kept this plural-looking spelling even though it refers to one single disease. It's just how the word developed historically—similar to how "news" looks plural but is actually singular.