How to Pronounce Hemoptysis

Hemoptysis is pronounced heh-MOP-tih-sis. The stress falls on the second syllable, MOP, which should sound like the cleaning tool. Say it like you're saying "he" then "MOP" (loud) then "tih-sis" (softer and quicker).

Hemoptysis breaks into four syllables: he-MOP-ti-sis. If you clap once for each syllable as you say the word, you'll clap four times total.

The second syllable, MOP, gets the stress—say it louder and longer than the others. A common mistake is putting stress on the first syllable (HEM-op-ti-sis) or the last syllable (hem-op-TY-sis), but the correct way is HEM-op-TI-sis with emphasis on MOP.

Hemoptysis comes from two Greek roots: "hemo-" meaning blood, and "-ptysis" meaning spitting or coughing up. Put together, the word literally means "spitting up blood" or "coughing up blood."

Hemoptysis simply means coughing up blood or blood-tinged phlegm from the lungs and airways. It's a symptom that a doctor needs to know about, not a condition on its own.

Other words with the "hemo-" root include hemoglobin (blood protein) and hematoma (a collection of blood). Words with the "-ptysis" root include hemoptysis's close cousin, bronchiectasis, which also involves the respiratory tract.

You might hear a doctor say: "The patient reported hemoptysis during her visit," meaning the patient coughed up blood. Or in a medical setting: "We need to investigate the cause of his hemoptysis."

Hemoptysis doesn't have a commonly used abbreviation in everyday speech. Doctors usually say or write out the full word "hemoptysis" when discussing this symptom.