How to Pronounce Defibrillation
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Defibrillation Pronunciation
dee-fib-rih-LAY-shun
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
dee
fib
rih
LAY
stress here
shun
5 syllables
What is Defibrillation?
An emergency treatment that delivers a strong electrical shock to the heart to stop a life-threatening irregular rhythm, such as ventricular fibrillation, and allow the heart to restart with a normal beat. It is one of the most critical steps in treating sudden cardiac arrest.
Questions About Defibrillation
How do you pronounce defibrillation?
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Defibrillation is pronounced dee-fib-rih-LAY-shun. The stress falls on the fourth syllable, which is "LAY." The first part sounds like "dee," the second part like "fib," the third like "rih," and the last part like "LAY-shun."
What are the syllables in defibrillation?
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Defibrillation breaks into five syllables: de-fib-ril-la-tion. When you say it out loud, each syllable gets its own short beat, but only the "la" syllable (the fourth one) gets the emphasis.
Which syllable gets the stress, and what's the common mistake?
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The stress belongs on the fourth syllable: de-fib-ril-LAY-shun. Many people mistakenly stress the third syllable instead (de-fib-RIL-ay-shun), which makes it sound wrong. Remember: LAY is where the emphasis goes!
What does 'defibrillation' mean in plain English?
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Defibrillation simply means stopping the heart's dangerous irregular shaking and getting it back to beating normally. Think of it as an electrical reset for the heart when it's in trouble.
Where does the word 'defibrillation' come from?
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The word comes from two parts: "de-" (meaning to remove or stop) and "fibrillation" (meaning irregular, uncontrolled shaking of the heart muscle). So the word literally means 'to stop the fibrillation.'
What are related words that use the root 'fibrillation'?
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You might hear "ventricular fibrillation" or "atrial fibrillation." These describe the irregular heartbeat itself, while defibrillation describes the treatment to stop it. The root "fibrillation" appears in all three words.
What is the short form or abbreviation for defibrillation?
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Defibrillation is sometimes shortened to "defib" (pronounced DEE-fib). You'll also hear about a "defibrillator," which is the machine that delivers the electrical shock. These shorter forms are common in medical settings.
Can you use 'defibrillation' in a simple sentence?
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Here's an example: "The emergency team used defibrillation to help restore the patient's heart rhythm." The word is a noun that describes the action or treatment itself, not a verb you would do.