How to Pronounce Supravalvular Stenosis

Say it like this: soo-prah-VAL-vyoo-lar steh-NOH-sis. The stress falls on the third syllable (VAL) in the first word and the second syllable (NOH) in the second word. Think of "soo" (like the sound you make to calm a baby), then "prah" (like "prah-prah"), then the loud VAL, then "vyoo-lar."

People often stress the wrong syllables—saying su-PRAH-val-VU-lar instead of soo-prah-VAL-vyoo-lar. Another common mistake is pronouncing the second word as "ste-NO-sis" instead of "steh-NOH-sis." Remember: the beat goes on VAL and on NOH.

Supravalvular breaks down as: su-pra-val-vu-lar (five syllables). Stenosis breaks down as: ste-no-sis (three syllables). When you say them together, it's eight syllables total: soo-prah-VAL-vyoo-lar steh-NOH-sis.

"Supra" is Latin for "above," and "valvular" comes from "valva," also Latin, meaning "valve." So supravalvular literally means "above the valve." In this case, it's referring to narrowing that happens above the aortic valve.

Stenosis comes from Greek and means "narrowing." You'll hear it in many medical words—like "mitral stenosis" or "pyloric stenosis." Whenever you hear stenosis, think "things are getting smaller or tighter in there."

It's a tightening or narrowing of the main artery (the aorta) in the spot just above the valve that controls blood flow out of the heart. Think of it like a pinch in a hose right after a gate—the opening gets smaller and blood has a harder time flowing through.

You'll hear "valvular" in words like "aortic valvular disease," "mitral valvular prolapse," and "pulmonary valvular stenosis." All of these words are talking about problems with the heart's valves. The "valvular" part always means it has something to do with a valve.

You might read or hear: "The cardiologist explained that the patient's narrowing was supravalvular stenosis, which meant the tightening was above the valve rather than at the valve itself." This helps people understand where the problem is located in the heart.