How to Pronounce Allergic Rhinitis
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Allergic Rhinitis Pronunciation
ah-LER-jik ry-NY-tis
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
ah
LER
stress here
jik ry
NY
stress here
tis
5 syllables
What is Allergic Rhinitis?
An allergic reaction causing inflammation of the nasal passages in response to airborne allergens such as pollen, dust mites, or pet dander, commonly known as hay fever. Symptoms include sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, and nasal congestion.
Questions About Allergic Rhinitis
How do you pronounce 'allergic rhinitis'?
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Say it like this: ah-LER-jik ry-NY-tis. The first word rhymes with 'allergy,' and the second word sounds like 'rye-NYE-tis.' The stress falls on the second syllable of each word—LER in 'allergic' and NY in 'rhinitis.'
What are the syllables in 'allergic rhinitis'?
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'Allergic' breaks into four syllables: al-LER-jik. 'Rhinitis' breaks into three syllables: rhi-NY-tis. Together, the full term has seven syllables total.
Which syllable gets the stress in 'allergic'?
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The second syllable gets the stress: al-LER-jik. A common mistake is stressing the first syllable (AL-er-jik), but the correct way puts the emphasis on LER.
Which syllable gets the stress in 'rhinitis'?
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The second syllable gets the stress: rhi-NY-tis. People often say rhi-NI-tis (with stress on the wrong syllable), but the correct pronunciation emphasizes the NY sound in the middle.
What does the word 'rhinitis' come from?
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'Rhino' or 'rhino-' is a Greek root that means 'nose,' and '-itis' is a Latin suffix meaning 'inflammation of.' So 'rhinitis' literally means 'inflammation of the nose.' You'll see the 'rhino-' root in other nose-related words like 'rhinoplasty.'
What does 'allergic' mean in plain English?
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'Allergic' means your body is having a reaction to something it identifies as harmful, even though that thing is usually harmless to most people. It describes a sensitivity or negative response to a specific substance.
What is the everyday term for 'allergic rhinitis'?
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Most people call it 'hay fever,' even though it has nothing to do with hay or fever. You might also hear it called 'seasonal allergies' or just 'allergies,' depending on when symptoms happen.
What other medical words share the root 'rhino-'?
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'Rhinoplasty' (a nose surgery) and 'rhinoscope' (a tool to look inside the nose) both use the 'rhino-' root meaning nose. Whenever you see 'rhino-' in a medical word, it's referring to the nose.