How to Pronounce Otitis Media
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Otitis Media Pronunciation
oh-TY-tis MEE-dee-ah
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
oh
TY
stress here
tis MEE
dee
ah
5 syllables
What is Otitis Media?
Inflammation of the middle ear (the space behind the eardrum), most commonly caused by bacterial or viral infection, and one of the most common pediatric diagnoses. It causes ear pain, fever, and temporary hearing loss; acute bacterial otitis media is typically treated with antibiotics.
Questions About Otitis Media
How do you pronounce otitis media?
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Say it like this: oh-TY-tis MEE-dee-ah. The stress falls on the second part of the first word (TY), so you say it a bit louder and longer than the other syllables. The second word sounds like "media" in "social media."
How many syllables does otitis media have?
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Together, it has five syllables: o-TI-tis MEE-dee-ah. If you say each part slowly, you can count them out: o (1), ti (2), tis (3), mee (4), dee-ah (5).
What is the most common mispronunciation of otitis media?
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Many people stress the wrong syllable and say oh-TIE-tis or oh-TY-tus, but the correct pronunciation puts the stress on TY and ends with "tis" (not "tus"). Also, "media" should sound like MEE-dee-ah, not MAY-dee-ah.
What do the word parts 'otitis' and 'media' mean?
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"Otitis" comes from the Greek word for ear (ot-) plus "-itis," which means inflammation. "Media" is Latin for "middle." So otitis media literally means "inflammation of the middle ear."
Are there other medical words that use 'otitis'?
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Yes! "Otitis externa" (inflammation of the outer ear) and "mastoiditis" (inflammation of the mastoid bone behind the ear) both share the root "ot-" meaning ear. Learning these related words can help you remember how to say otitis media.
What is a simpler way to say otitis media in everyday English?
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You can call it a middle ear infection or middle ear inflammation. These phrases mean the same thing but use words most people already know.
Is there a shorter way to write or say otitis media?
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Yes, doctors sometimes use the abbreviation OM for otitis media. You would say "oh em" when speaking it aloud.
Can you use otitis media in a sentence?
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Here's an example: "The pediatrician explained that otitis media is very common in young children." This shows how the term is used when talking or writing about the condition.