How to Pronounce Macroglossia
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Macroglossia Pronunciation
mak-roh-GLOS-ee-ah
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
mak
roh
GLOS
stress here
ee
ah
5 syllables
What is Macroglossia?
Abnormal enlargement of the tongue, which can cause breathing difficulties, snoring, sleep apnea, speech abnormalities, and dental malocclusion. It can be congenital (Down syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome) or acquired (amyloidosis, hypothyroidism, acromegaly, lymphangioma).
Questions About Macroglossia
How do you pronounce macroglossia?
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Macroglossia is pronounced mak-roh-GLOS-ee-ah. The stress falls on the third syllable, which is GLOS. Say it like you're saying "mack-row-GLOSS-ee-uh" — with a hard emphasis on the GLOSS part.
What are the syllables in macroglossia?
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Macroglossia breaks into five syllables: mac-ro-glos-sia. When you say it slowly, each part gets its own beat: MAC (rhymes with pack) - ROH (rhymes with go) - GLOS (rhymes with moss) - EE (rhymes with tree) - AH (rhymes with spa).
Which syllable gets the stress in macroglossia?
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The third syllable, GLOS, receives the stress: mak-roh-GLOS-ee-ah. Many people incorrectly stress the first syllable and say MAK-roh-glos-ee-ah, but that's wrong — remember to emphasize GLOS in the middle.
What do the word parts in macroglossia mean?
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Macroglossia comes from two Greek roots: "macro" means large or abnormally big, and "glossia" relates to the tongue. Put them together, and the word literally describes an abnormally enlarged tongue.
What other medical words use the same root as macroglossia?
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Other medical words with "glossia" include aglossia (absence of a tongue), hypoglossia (an undersized tongue), and glossitis (inflammation of the tongue). You'll also see "macro" in other terms like macrocephaly (an abnormally large head).
What does macroglossia mean in simple terms?
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Macroglossia simply means an abnormally large or swollen tongue. It's a descriptive word that tells you the tongue has grown bigger than it should be.
What is a common mispronunciation of macroglossia?
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A very common mistake is saying mak-roh-GLOS-ee-uh with the stress on the wrong syllable, such as MAC-roh-glossia (stressing the first syllable) or even macro-GLOSS-ia (stressing it oddly). The correct way is always mak-roh-GLOS-ee-ah with the stress on GLOS.
Can you use macroglossia in a simple sentence?
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Sure! Here's an example: "The doctor examined the patient who had macroglossia and noted that the tongue was significantly enlarged." This shows how the word is used in a medical context to describe the condition.