How to Pronounce Anorexia Nervosa
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Anorexia Nervosa Pronunciation
an-oh-REK-see-ah ner-VOH-sah
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
an
oh
REK
stress here
see
ah ner
VOH
stress here
sah
7 syllables
What is Anorexia Nervosa?
An eating disorder characterized by severely restricted food intake, intense fear of gaining weight, and distorted body image, leading to dangerously low body weight with serious metabolic and endocrine consequences including amenorrhea, osteoporosis, and electrolyte imbalances. It has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder.
Questions About Anorexia Nervosa
How do you pronounce 'anorexia nervosa'?
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Say it like this: an-oh-REK-see-ah ner-VOH-sah. The stress falls on the third syllable of the first word (REK) and the second syllable of the second word (VOH). It's helpful to say each word separately at first, then blend them together smoothly.
How do you break 'anorexia nervosa' into syllables?
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Anorexia breaks into five syllables: an-oh-REK-see-ah. Nervosa breaks into three syllables: ner-VOH-sah. So the whole phrase has eight syllables total when you say it all together.
What's the most common mispronunciation of this word?
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Many people stress the first syllable and say AN-oh-REK-see-ah, but that's incorrect. The stress should land on the third syllable: an-oh-REK-see-ah. Also, some people mispronounce the 'x' sound in the middle—it should sound like a 'k', not a 'z'.
What do the word parts 'anorexia' and 'nervosa' mean?
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Anorexia comes from Greek roots: 'an-' means 'without' and 'orexia' means 'appetite.' Nervosa is a Latin word meaning 'nervous' or 'of nervous origin.' Together, they literally mean 'loss of appetite of nervous origin,' though the condition involves much more than just appetite loss.
Is there a short way to say or write 'anorexia nervosa'?
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Yes, it's often shortened to just 'anorexia' (an-oh-REK-see-ah) in casual conversation. Medical professionals might also use the abbreviation AN, but the full two-word name is always correct and is what you'll see in most medical writing.
What other medical words share the root 'anorexia'?
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Words like anorexiant (a substance that reduces appetite) and anorexigenic (something that causes loss of appetite) both share the same 'anorexia' root. You might also encounter 'bulimia nervosa,' which is a related eating disorder that also uses the Latin word 'nervosa'.
Can you use 'anorexia nervosa' in a simple sentence?
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Here's an example: 'The doctor explained that anorexia nervosa is a serious condition that affects how people think about food and their bodies.' You can use this phrase when talking about the condition in a medical or educational context.
Why is it two words instead of one?
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Using two words helps distinguish this specific eating disorder from other types of anorexia (loss of appetite from other causes). The word 'nervosa' tells you this particular type has a psychological or nervous system component, making it a more precise medical term.