How to Pronounce Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Pronunciation
POHST ah-KYOOT seh-KWEL-ee of SARZ-koh-VEE-TOO
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
POHST ah
KYOOT seh
KWEL
stress here
ee of SARZ
koh
VEE
stress here
TOO
stress here
7 syllables
What is Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2?
The formal medical term for Long COVID, referring to new, returning, or ongoing health problems experienced by people after the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection. It is estimated to affect 10–30% of infected individuals and represents a significant ongoing public health challenge; research is ongoing to understand causes and develop treatments.
Questions About Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2
How do you pronounce 'Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2'?
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Say it like this: POHST ah-KYOOT seh-KWEL-ee of SARZ-koh-VEE-TOO. Break it into chunks: POHST (like 'post' in 'post office') + ah-KYOOT (rhymes with 'acute') + seh-KWEL-ee (sounds like 'sequel' with an 'ee' at the end) + of + SARZ-koh-VEE-TOO (the virus name). The stress falls on POHST at the beginning and KYOOT in the middle part.
Which syllable gets the most emphasis when you say this term?
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The first syllable, POHST, gets the primary stress. A common mistake is stressing ah-KYOOT instead, but the emphasis belongs on POHST at the start. Think of saying 'POHST' loudly and the rest more softly.
What does 'sequelae' mean, and where does that word come from?
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Sequelae (pronounced seh-KWEL-ee) comes from Latin and means 'things that follow' or 'aftereffects.' It's the plural form of 'sequela,' so doctors use it when talking about multiple health problems that happen as a result of something else. You'll see this word in many medical terms describing long-term effects.
Is there a shorter way to say 'Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2'?
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Yes! Many people shorten it to the abbreviation 'PASC' (pronounced as individual letters: P-A-S-C), or they simply say 'Long COVID.' Both refer to the same thing, so you'll hear all three versions used by healthcare workers and in medical conversations.
How do you break 'Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2' into syllables?
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Here's the breakdown: POST-ah-KYOOT-seh-KWEL-ee-of-SARZ-koh-VEE-TOO. The term has 10 syllables total, with the main stress on POHST and a secondary stress on KYOOT. Saying it slowly, syllable by syllable, can help you get comfortable with the full phrase.
What's the plain English meaning of this medical term?
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In everyday language, 'Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2' simply means 'the ongoing health problems people experience after COVID-19 infection.' It describes what happens in the weeks and months after someone has had the acute (sudden) illness. Most people just call this 'Long COVID.'
What does 'acute' mean in 'Post-Acute Sequelae'?
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In medical language, 'acute' (ah-KYOOT) means sudden and short-term, as opposed to chronic, which is long-lasting. So 'post-acute' means 'after the acute phase'—in other words, after the initial sudden illness has passed. Understanding this root helps you see that the term refers to problems that come after the immediate COVID-19 infection.
Are there other medical words that use 'sequelae'?
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Yes! You might hear terms like 'sequelae of stroke,' 'post-traumatic sequelae,' or 'sequelae of infection.' Anytime a doctor talks about long-term effects or aftereffects of a health event, they might use the word 'sequelae.' It's a useful Latin-based term that appears often in medical language.