The Tricky Pronunciation of “Areola”
December 30, 2008 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under breastfeeding
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?
I’d say “ah-REE-oh-lah” without a doubt, but that could be the Irish accent
HPP, I bet it’s much prettier sounding in your Irish accent than “air-ree-OH-lah” in my midwestern American accent