How to Pronounce Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis Pronunciation
hash-ee-MOH-tohz thy-royd-EYE-tis
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
hash
ee
MOH
stress here
tohz thy
royd
EYE
stress here
tis
7 syllables
What is Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?
An autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to become inflamed and gradually lose its ability to produce thyroid hormone, leading to hypothyroidism. It is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in developed countries.
Questions About Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
How do you pronounce Hashimoto's thyroiditis?
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Say it like this: hash-ee-MOH-tohz thy-royd-EYE-tis. The stress falls on the third syllable (MOH), so you say it a bit louder and longer than the other parts. The word has two main parts joined together: Hashimoto's (the first part) and thyroiditis (the second part).
What is the most common mistake people make when saying this word?
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The biggest mistake is stressing the wrong syllable—people often say hash-ee-moh-TOHZ instead of HASH-ee-MOH-tohz. Another common error is rushing through the middle syllables or not pronouncing the 'z' sound at the end of Hashimoto's clearly. Slow down and remember: the emphasis goes on MOH, the third syllable.
How do you break Hashimoto's thyroiditis into syllables?
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Break it into eight syllables like this: Ha-shi-MOH-tohz / thy-ROY-di-tis. The first part (Hashimoto's) has four syllables, and the second part (thyroiditis) has four syllables. Saying it slowly, syllable by syllable, helps you get the pronunciation right.
Where does the name 'Hashimoto's' come from?
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Hashimoto's comes from Hakaru Hashimoto, a Japanese doctor who first described this condition in 1912. Medical conditions are often named after the doctors who discovered or first detailed them, which is why you'll see this doctor's name as part of the disease name.
What does 'thyroiditis' mean?
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Thyroiditis breaks down into two parts: 'thyroid' (the gland in your neck that makes hormones) and '-itis' (a suffix meaning inflammation or swelling). So thyroiditis simply means inflammation of the thyroid gland. You'll see the '-itis' ending on many medical words that describe inflamed body parts.
What is the short form or abbreviation for Hashimoto's thyroiditis?
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The abbreviation is HT or sometimes Hashimoto's disease (without the word 'thyroiditis'). Doctors often use 'Hashimoto's' by itself as shorthand, which is easier to say than the full medical name.
What is a simple, everyday way to say what Hashimoto's thyroiditis is?
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You could call it an 'inflamed thyroid condition' or 'thyroid inflammation.' In plain English, it's when the body's immune system causes the thyroid gland to become swollen and inflamed. These everyday terms help you understand what the fancy medical word actually means.
What other medical words share the root 'thyroid'?
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You'll hear words like thyroidectomy (surgery to remove the thyroid), hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). All of these words have 'thyroid' in them because they all relate to the thyroid gland and how it works.