How to Pronounce Primary Infection
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Primary Infection Pronunciation
PRY-mer-ee in-FEK-shun
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
PRY
stress here
mer
ee in
FEK
stress here
shun
5 syllables
What is Primary Infection?
The initial infection by a pathogen in a host who has not previously been exposed to that organism, typically accompanied by an immune response that may or may not cause symptoms. Primary infections often cause more severe disease in susceptible individuals than subsequent exposures; examples include primary varicella (chickenpox) versus reactivation (shingles) or primary EBV infection (mononucleosis).
Questions About Primary Infection
How do you pronounce 'primary infection'?
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Say it like this: PRY-mer-ee in-FEK-shun. The first word rhymes with "try," the second word sounds like "air," and the third word starts with "in" like "inside." Put the stress on the first syllable of the first word: PRY.
Which syllable gets the stress in 'primary infection'?
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The stress falls on the first syllable of "primary"—PRY-mer-ee. A common mistake is stressing the second syllable (pri-MER-ee), but that's incorrect. Remember: PRY gets the emphasis, like the word "pry" when you're trying to open something.
How do you break 'primary infection' into syllables?
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"Primary" breaks into three syllables: PRI-mar-y. "Infection" breaks into three syllables: in-FEK-shun. Together it's six syllables: PRI-mar-y in-FEK-shun.
What does 'primary' mean in 'primary infection'?
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"Primary" means "first" or "original." In this phrase, it describes an infection that is happening for the first time in a person's body. It's the opposite of a secondary or repeat infection.
What does the word 'infection' mean?
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An "infection" is when a harmful germ—like a virus or bacteria—gets into your body and starts to grow there. The word comes from Latin and means "to put in" or "to contaminate."
What is a simple way to explain 'primary infection' in plain English?
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A "primary infection" is the first time your body catches a specific disease from a germ. It's your first encounter with that particular pathogen, so your body has never seen it before.
What are some related words that use 'primary'?
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Words like "primary care," "primary school," and "primary source" all use "primary" to mean "first" or "main." In medicine, you might also hear "secondary infection," which is a different type of infection that comes after the first one.
Can you use 'primary infection' in a sentence?
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Here's an example: "When someone gets chickenpox for the first time, that is a primary infection, and their body is learning how to fight off that virus." This shows that the term simply names the first occurrence of a specific infection.