How to Pronounce Costochondritis
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Costochondritis Pronunciation
kos-toh-kon-DRY-tis
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
kos
toh
kon
DRY
stress here
tis
5 syllables
What is Costochondritis?
Inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the sternum (breastbone), causing chest pain that can mimic a heart attack and worsens with movement, deep breathing, or pressing on the affected area. It is usually self-limiting and resolves within a few weeks, though some cases persist for months.
Questions About Costochondritis
How do you pronounce costochondritis?
+
Costochondritis is pronounced KOS-toh-kon-DRY-tis. Break it into four syllables: KOS (rhymes with "boss"), toh (like "toe"), kon (rhymes with "on"), and DRY-tis (where DRY rhymes with "sky"). The stress falls on the third syllable: kon-DRY-tis.
What is the most common mispronunciation of this word?
+
Many people stress the first syllable and say "KOS-toh-kon-DRY-tis" like they're saying "cost," but the correct stress is on the third syllable: kos-toh-kon-DRY-tis. Another common mistake is rushing through the middle syllables instead of pronouncing each one clearly.
What do the word parts 'costo-' and '-chondritis' mean?
+
Costo- comes from Latin and means "rib." Chondritis comes from Greek: chondro- means "cartilage" and -itis means "inflammation." So costochondritis literally means "inflammation of the cartilage of the ribs."
What is costochondritis in plain English?
+
Costochondritis is inflammation in the cartilage between your ribs and your breastbone. It's the medical way of saying that the connective tissue in that area is irritated or swollen.
What other medical words share the '-itis' ending?
+
The -itis ending means "inflammation of" and appears in many medical terms. Other examples include bronchitis (inflammation of the airways), arthritis (inflammation of the joints), and tendinitis (inflammation of tendons). Whenever you see -itis, you know the word is describing some kind of inflammation.
How would you use costochondritis correctly in a sentence?
+
You might say: "The doctor explained that my chest pain was caused by costochondritis rather than a heart problem." Or: "She was diagnosed with costochondritis after the sports injury."
Is there a short abbreviation for costochondritis?
+
Costochondritis is sometimes shortened to CC or Tietze syndrome in medical settings, though Tietze syndrome technically refers to a specific type. Most healthcare providers simply say the full word: costochondritis.
How do you break costochondritis into syllables?
+
Costochondritis breaks into four syllables: cos-to-chon-dri-tis. When you say it, make sure each syllable is clear and distinct, with the heaviest stress on the third syllable (chon, which becomes DRY in the phonetic respelling).