How to Pronounce Infantile Spasms
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Infantile Spasms Pronunciation
IN-fan-tile SPAZ-umz
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
IN
stress here
fan
tile SPAZ
umz
4 syllables
What is Infantile Spasms?
A rare but serious type of epilepsy that begins in infancy, characterized by sudden jerking movements of the neck, trunk, and limbs. It is associated with West syndrome and often leads to intellectual disabilities if not treated promptly.
Questions About Infantile Spasms
How do you pronounce 'infantile spasms'?
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Say it like this: IN-fan-tile SPAZ-umz. The first word sounds like "IN" (rhymes with "pin") plus "fan" plus "tile" (rhymes with "mile"). The second word is "SPAZ" (rhymes with "jazz") plus "umz" (like the letter "m" with a "z" sound). The stress falls on the first syllable of each word: IN-fan-tile and SPAZ-umz.
What is the stressed syllable in 'infantile spasms'?
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There are two main stress points: the first syllable of "infantile" (IN) and the first syllable of "spasms" (SPAZ). A common mistake is stressing the middle syllable and saying "in-FAN-tile," but the correct emphasis is on IN-fan-tile.
How do you break 'infantile spasms' into syllables?
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"Infantile" breaks into four syllables: IN-fan-tile. "Spasms" breaks into two syllables: SPAZ-umz. Together, the full term has six syllables total.
What does the word 'infantile' mean?
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"Infantile" means relating to or affecting infants and very young babies. It comes from the Latin word "infans," which literally means "unable to speak." In medicine, it's used to describe conditions that appear in the earliest months or years of life.
What does the word 'spasms' mean in plain English?
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A spasm is a sudden, involuntary (uncontrolled) tightening or jerking movement of muscles. "Spasms" is the plural, meaning more than one of these sudden movements. The word comes from Greek and describes muscle movements that happen without a person meaning for them to happen.
What do 'infantile spasms' mean together?
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Together, "infantile spasms" describes sudden, involuntary jerking movements that happen in babies and very young children. It's a straightforward combination: "infantile" (in babies) plus "spasms" (sudden jerking movements).
Is there a short way to say 'infantile spasms'?
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Yes, doctors sometimes call it "IS" as an abbreviation. You say it by spelling out the letters: "eye-ess." The condition is also historically linked to the term "West syndrome," named after a doctor who first described it.
What other medical words share the root 'spasm'?
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Several words use "spasm" or similar roots: "spastic" (involving stiff, jerky movements), "muscle spasm" (a sudden tight muscle), and "bronchospasm" (sudden tightening of airways). All of these relate to sudden, involuntary muscle contractions.