Haemorrhoids

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Haemorrhoids

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun (plural)

Pronunciation

HEM-uh-roydz  /ˈhɛm(ə)rɔɪdz/

Definition

Swollen and inflamed veins in the rectum and anus that cause discomfort, itching, pain, and bleeding; commonly known as piles.

Plain meaning

Haemorrhoids, commonly called piles, are swollen veins around the anus and lower rectum that cause pain, itching, and sometimes bleeding during bowel movements. They are extremely common and largely treatable.

Register

Medical in its formal use. Haemorrhoids is the clinical term; piles is the common everyday equivalent. Both are widely used and neither is offensive. The word is associated with the embarrassment of a very common condition — haemorrhoids affect roughly half of people at some point in their lives but are often not discussed openly.