How to Pronounce Amnesia

Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling

Amnesia Pronunciation

am-NEE-zhah

Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables

Syllable Breakdown

NEE

stress here

zhah

3 syllables

What is Amnesia?

A condition involving partial or total memory loss, which can be caused by brain damage, disease, or psychological trauma. It may affect the ability to form new memories (anterograde) or recall past memories (retrograde), or both.

Questions About Amnesia

How do you pronounce 'amnesia'?

Amnesia is pronounced am-NEE-zhah. The stress falls on the second syllable, which sounds like "nee." The ending sounds like "zhah," similar to the "s" sound in "vision."

What is the correct way to break 'amnesia' into syllables?

Amnesia breaks into three syllables: am-NE-sia. Each syllable is distinct, with the emphasis landing firmly on the middle syllable.

What is the most common mispronunciation of 'amnesia'?

Many people stress the first syllable, saying AM-nee-zhah instead of am-NEE-zhah. Remember that the stress belongs in the middle—think of "nee" as the loud part.

Where does the word 'amnesia' come from?

Amnesia comes from Greek. The prefix "a-" means "without," and "mnesia" relates to memory. Together, the word literally means "without memory."

What does 'amnesia' mean in simple, everyday language?

Amnesia means memory loss. It describes when someone has trouble remembering things they should know, either from their past or new information they're trying to learn.

What are some related words that share the same root as 'amnesia'?

Words like "amnesty" (related to forgetting or not prosecuting) and "mnemonic" (a memory aid) share the same Greek root about memory. You might also hear "amnesiac," which describes a person experiencing amnesia.

How would you use 'amnesia' in a sentence?

You might say: "In the movie, the character suffered from amnesia and couldn't remember his own name" or "The doctor explained that amnesia can affect short-term or long-term memory."

Is there a short abbreviation for 'amnesia'?

Amnesia doesn't have a widely used abbreviation in everyday speech. Doctors may use shorthand like "anterograde amnesia" or "retrograde amnesia" to describe specific types, but these are pronounced as full words.