How to Pronounce Turbinates
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Turbinates Pronunciation
TER-bih-nayts
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
TER
stress here
bih
nayts
3 syllables
What is Turbinates?
Scroll-shaped bones (inferior, middle, superior) on the side walls of the nasal cavity that increase the surface area for warming, humidifying, and filtering inhaled air; also called nasal conchae.
Questions About Turbinates
How do you pronounce the word 'turbinates'?
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Turbinates is pronounced TER-bih-nayts. The stress falls on the first syllable (TER), which should sound like the word 'turn' with an 'er' sound. Say it like you're saying 'turn' + 'bih' + 'nayts,' and you've got it right.
How do you break 'turbinates' into syllables?
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Turbinates breaks into four syllables: tur-bi-nates. When you say it slowly, each part flows together, but stressing that first 'tur' part helps you say it correctly.
What is the most common mistake people make when saying 'turbinates'?
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Many people put the stress on the second syllable instead of the first, saying tur-BIH-nayts instead of TER-bih-nayts. Remember: TER comes first and gets the emphasis.
What does the word 'turbinate' actually mean in plain English?
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The word turbinate means something that is shaped like a scroll or spiral. The turbinates in your nose are named this way because they look like rolled-up scrolls when you view them from the side.
Where does the word 'turbinate' come from?
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The word comes from the Latin word 'turbinatus,' which means 'shaped like a spinning top or cone.' The shape of these nasal structures reminded early doctors of a spinning toy, so they used that word to describe them.
What is another medical name for turbinates?
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Turbinates are also called nasal conchae (pronounced NAY-zul KON-kee). Both names describe the same scroll-shaped structures in your nose, but 'turbinates' is the term you'll hear more often in English-speaking countries.
Can you use 'turbinate' (singular) in a sentence?
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Yes, you might hear a doctor say: 'The patient's middle turbinate was swollen during the examination.' This refers to just one of the three scroll-shaped structures on one side of the nose.
What related words share the root with 'turbinate'?
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Related words include 'turbinated' (meaning having the shape of a turbinate) and 'concha' or 'conchae' (the Latin term for the same structures). You might also hear 'turbo' used in other medical contexts, which comes from the same Latin root meaning spinning or twisting.