Breastfeeding 1-2-3 » areolae http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123 Breastfeeding 1-2-3: A Blog for Breastfeeding Tips and Support Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:49:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 The Tricky Pronunciation of “Areola” http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/the-tricky-pronunciation-of-areola/ http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/the-tricky-pronunciation-of-areola/#comments Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:53:04 +0000 Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor http://www.breastfeeding123.com/?p=1471 Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

]]> How do you pronounce “areola” (the dark circle around the nipple)? Turns out that is a trick question. There are two ways to pronounce “areola” so it really is a matter of how you pronounce the word. You can either put the emphasis on the second syllable (I would sound this out as “ah-REE-oh-lah”) or the third syllable (which I would sound out as “air-ree-OH-lah”). To see the official pronunciation key and listen to how each version is pronounced, visit the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of areola.

Note that the plural of areola is “areolae” (which one might think is “air-ree-OH-lie” but is actually “ah-REE-oh-lee” according to Merriam-Webster). But wait! You can also use “areolas” as the plural, which I suppose invites two more pronounciations by adding an “s” to the “areola” pronunciations above. Much clearer now, huh? You’re welcome.

So how do you pronounce “areola”? My vote is for putting the emphasis on the third syllable, as in “air-ree-OH-lah.” And you?

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