How to Pronounce Neonatal Jaundice
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Neonatal Jaundice Pronunciation
nee-oh-NAY-tal JAWN-dis
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
nee
oh
NAY
stress here
tal JAWN
dis
5 syllables
What is Neonatal Jaundice?
A very common condition in newborns in which the skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow due to a buildup of bilirubin — a yellow pigment released when red blood cells are broken down — because the newborn's immature liver cannot process it fast enough. Most cases are mild and resolve on their own, but severe cases require phototherapy (light treatment) or, rarely, exchange transfusion to prevent brain damage (kernicterus).
Questions About Neonatal Jaundice
How do you pronounce 'neonatal jaundice'?
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Say it like this: nee-oh-NAY-tal JAWN-dis. The stress falls on the second part of the first word (NAY) and the first part of the second word (JAWN). Think of it as "nee-oh-NAY-tal" (four syllables) followed by "JAWN-dis" (two syllables).
Which syllable gets the emphasis in 'neonatal jaundice'?
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The third syllable of 'neonatal' (NAY) and the first syllable of 'jaundice' (JAWN) are both stressed. A common mistake is putting the stress on the first syllable—saying "NEE-oh-natal" instead of "nee-oh-NAY-tal." Remember: the emphasis comes later in the word.
What does 'neonatal' mean by itself?
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The word 'neonatal' comes from Latin and Greek: 'neo-' means 'new' and 'natal' relates to 'birth.' So 'neonatal' simply means 'newborn' or 'relating to a newborn baby.' Any condition with 'neonatal' in its name happens in or affects newborns.
What does 'jaundice' mean in plain English?
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Jaundice is a medical word for yellowing of the skin and eyes. When you hear 'jaundice,' think 'yellow discoloration.' The word comes from Old French and originally referred to the color yellow itself, which is why it's used to describe this yellow appearance.
How do you break 'neonatal jaundice' into syllables?
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Break it like this: nee-oh-NAY-tal JAWN-dis. The first word has four syllables (nee-oh-NAY-tal) and the second word has two syllables (JAWN-dis), giving you six syllables total. Saying it slowly, syllable by syllable, helps you get the pronunciation right.
What are some related words that use 'natal'?
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Other medical words with 'natal' include 'prenatal' (before birth) and 'postnatal' (after birth). Since 'natal' means 'relating to birth,' any word with this part is talking about something connected to birth or newborns. This root appears in many medical terms about pregnancy and babies.
Can you use 'neonatal jaundice' in a sentence?
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Here's an example: "The pediatrician explained that neonatal jaundice is very common and that many newborns develop the condition in their first week of life." This sentence shows how the term is used when talking about babies and their health conditions.
What is the short abbreviation for 'neonatal jaundice'?
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Neonatal jaundice is sometimes abbreviated as NNJ. You might also see it referred to simply as 'jaundice in newborns' or just 'jaundice' when the context is clearly about babies. The abbreviation is less common in everyday speech than in medical records.