How to Pronounce Autoimmunity
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Autoimmunity Pronunciation
aw-toh-ih-MYOO-nih-tee
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
aw
toh
ih
MYOO
stress here
nih
tee
6 syllables
What is Autoimmunity?
The condition in which the immune system fails to recognize self from non-self and mounts an immune response against the body's own tissues; low-level autoimmunity (detectable by autoantibodies) is common, but overt autoimmune disease occurs when this response causes significant organ damage.
Questions About Autoimmunity
How do you pronounce autoimmunity?
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Autoimmunity is pronounced aw-toh-ih-MYOO-nih-tee. The stress falls on the fourth syllable, which is MYOO. Think of it like saying "auto" (like the car prefix) + "immunity" (the body's defense system), but with a slight pause between the two parts.
What syllables make up the word autoimmunity?
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The word breaks into six syllables: au-to-im-mu-ni-ty. If you say it slowly, you can hear each part clearly: au (like "aw"), to (like "toe"), im (like "im"), mu (like "moo"), ni (like "nee"), and ty (like "tee").
Which syllable do you stress in autoimmunity?
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You stress the MYOO syllable—the fourth one in the word. A common mistake is stressing the first syllable (AU-to-im-mu-ni-ty) or the second one (au-TO-im-mu-ni-ty), but the correct emphasis is on the "immunity" part: aw-toh-ih-MYOO-nih-tee.
What do the word parts of autoimmunity mean?
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Autoimmunity comes from two Greek roots: "auto" means "self," and "immunity" means "protection" or "defense." So the word literally means "self-defense" or "self-protection," but in this case it describes when the body's defense system mistakenly targets itself.
What's a simple way to explain what autoimmunity means?
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Autoimmunity means the immune system gets confused and attacks parts of your own body instead of just fighting germs and invaders. It's like your body's security system accidentally targeting the people it's supposed to protect.
What other medical words share the 'auto' root?
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Other medical words with "auto" include "autoimmune" (the adjective form, as in "autoimmune disease"), "autopsy" (examining a body), and "autonomic" (self-controlling, as in the autonomic nervous system). The "auto" root always means "self."
Is there a shorter way to say autoimmunity?
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The shorter form is "autoimmune," which is used as an adjective—for example, "autoimmune disease" or "autoimmune condition." You say it the same way: aw-toh-ih-MYOO-nih (just dropping the "-ty" ending).
Can you use autoimmunity in a sentence?
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Here's an example: "The doctor explained that autoimmunity occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly recognizes its own cells as dangerous." Another way: "Understanding autoimmunity helps explain why the immune system sometimes works against the body it's supposed to protect."