How to Pronounce Cholecystectomy
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Cholecystectomy Pronunciation
koh-lee-sis-TEK-toh-mee
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
koh
lee
sis
TEK
stress here
toh
mee
6 syllables
What is Cholecystectomy?
Surgical removal of the gallbladder, most commonly performed to treat gallstones or gallbladder inflammation. It can be done laparoscopically (minimally invasive) or as open surgery.
Questions About Cholecystectomy
How do you pronounce cholecystectomy?
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Cholecystectomy is pronounced koh-lee-sis-TEK-toh-mee. Say it like you're breaking it into chunks: "koh" (rhymes with "go"), "lee" (like the letter L), "sis" (like the word "sister" without the ter), "tek" (like "tech"), "toh" (rhymes with "go" again), and "mee" (like the letter M). The stress falls on the syllable "TEK," which is the fourth part.
What is the correct syllable breakdown for cholecystectomy?
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Cholecystectomy breaks into 6 syllables: cho-le-cys-tec-to-my. When you say it out loud, tap your chin or clap six times—one for each syllable. This helps you hear where the word naturally divides and keeps you from running syllables together.
Which syllable gets the stress in cholecystectomy?
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The stress falls on the fourth syllable: cho-le-cys-TEK-to-my. A common mistake is stressing the first syllable (CHO-le-cys-tec-to-my) or the last one (cho-le-cys-tec-TO-my), but neither is correct. Remember: TEK is the loud one!
What does cholecystectomy actually mean in plain English?
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Cholecystectomy is the medical name for surgical removal of the gallbladder. If you heard someone use this word, they're talking about a surgery where the gallbladder is taken out. It's made from Greek roots that literally mean "gallbladder removal."
What are the word parts that make up cholecystectomy?
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Cholecystectomy comes from three Greek parts: "chole" (meaning bile), "cyst" (meaning sac or bag), and "ectomy" (meaning removal or cutting out). So the word literally tells you what the surgery does—it removes the bile sac, which is the gallbladder.
What is the short form or abbreviation for cholecystectomy?
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The abbreviation is often written as "CCE" or sometimes just "chole," though "chole" is more casual. If you see "CCE" in medical writing or hear someone say "chole," they're shortening the full word cholecystectomy.
What are other medical words that use the same root as cholecystectomy?
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Several words share roots with cholecystectomy. "Cholecystitis" (koh-lee-sis-TY-tis) means gallbladder inflammation, and "choledoch" (koh-LED-ok) refers to the bile duct. All three words start with "chole," which always relates to bile or the gallbladder.
How would you use cholecystectomy correctly in a sentence?
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You might say: "The surgeon explained that the patient would need a cholecystectomy" or "My friend had a cholecystectomy last year." You use it like any other medical procedure name—as a noun that names a specific type of surgery.