How to Pronounce Congenital Hyperthyroidism
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Congenital Hyperthyroidism Pronunciation
kon-JEN-ih-tal hy-per-THY-royd-izm
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
kon
JEN
stress here
ih
tal hy
per
THY
stress here
royd
izm
8 syllables
What is Congenital Hyperthyroidism?
An overactive thyroid condition in a newborn, usually caused by transplacental passage of thyroid-stimulating antibodies from a mother with Graves' disease, causing tachycardia, poor weight gain, irritability, and potentially heart failure. The condition is usually transient, resolving as the maternal antibodies are cleared from the infant's system over several weeks to months.
Questions About Congenital Hyperthyroidism
How do you pronounce 'congenital hyperthyroidism'?
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Say it like this: kon-JEN-ih-tal hy-per-THY-royd-izm. The stress falls on the second syllable of the first word (JEN) and the third syllable of the second word (THY). Think of it as: kon-JEN-ih-tal (pause) hy-per-THY-royd-izm.
What's the most common way people mispronounce this term?
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Many people stress the first syllable and say CON-jenital instead of kon-JEN-ital. Others rush through the second word and say hy-per-thyroid-ISM instead of hy-per-THY-royd-izm. Remembering to stress JEN and THY will help you say it correctly.
How do you break 'congenital hyperthyroidism' into syllables?
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Congenital breaks into four syllables: con-GEN-i-tal. Hyperthyroidism breaks into five syllables: hy-per-THY-roid-ism. Together, that's nine syllables total, which is why it sounds like a mouthful at first.
What does 'congenital' mean on its own?
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Congenital (kon-JEN-ih-tal) means something you're born with. It comes from the Latin words 'con-' (with) and 'genitus' (born). You'll see this word in many medical terms like 'congenital heart disease.'
What does 'hyperthyroidism' mean on its own?
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Hyperthyroidism (hy-per-THY-royd-izm) refers to an overactive thyroid gland. 'Hyper-' means too much or excessive, 'thyroid' is the gland in your neck, and '-ism' refers to a condition. So it literally means 'excessive thyroid activity.'
What's a simpler way to explain what 'congenital hyperthyroidism' means?
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In plain English, it means an overactive thyroid gland in a newborn baby. The word 'congenital' tells you the baby is born with it, and 'hyperthyroidism' tells you the thyroid is working too hard.
Are there related words that share the same roots?
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Yes! You'll hear 'hypothyroidism' (an underactive thyroid), 'thyroid,' and other words starting with 'congenital-' like 'congenital heart disease.' Learning these root words helps you understand many medical terms.
How would you use this word in a sentence?
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You might hear: 'The pediatrician explained that the baby was diagnosed with congenital hyperthyroidism.' Or: 'Congenital hyperthyroidism is different from thyroiditis because of when it develops.'

