How to Pronounce Asthma

Asthma is pronounced AZ-mah. The first syllable rhymes with the word "jazz," and the second syllable sounds like "mah" as in "mama." The stress falls on the first syllable—AZ—so you say it a bit louder than the second part.

Many people say "AZ-thuh-mah" with an extra syllable in the middle, or they pronounce it "ASS-mah." The correct way is just two syllables: AZ-mah, with no 'th' sound in between.

Asthma has two syllables: AZ and mah. It's a short, straightforward word once you know how to break it apart.

Asthma comes from ancient Greek and originally meant "gasping" or "panting." The Greek root reflects what the condition does—it makes breathing difficult and labored.

In plain English, asthma is a lung condition that makes it hard to breathe. When someone has asthma, their airways can become tight and swollen, which makes it difficult to get air in and out of their lungs.

Yes! The word "asthmatic" (as-MAT-ik) is an adjective that describes something related to asthma, like "an asthmatic person" or "asthmatic symptoms." You'll also see the term "asthmaticus" used in medical Latin phrases.

You might say: "My friend has asthma, so she carries an inhaler with her" or "The doctor explained that asthma is a long-term lung condition." These sentences simply use the word to identify the condition without giving medical advice.

Always stress the first syllable: AZ-mah, not az-MAH. A common mistake is putting the stress on the second syllable, which sounds unnatural and is incorrect.