How to Pronounce Concussion

Concussion is pronounced kun-KUSH-un. The first syllable sounds like 'kun' (rhymes with 'sun'), the second syllable is 'KUSH' (rhymes with 'push'), and the third syllable is 'un' (sounds like the end of 'button'). The stress falls on the second syllable, KUSH, which is the part you say loudest and longest.

The stress falls on the second syllable: kun-KUSH-un. A common mistake is putting the stress on the first syllable (KUN-cussion), but that's incorrect. Remember: the middle syllable 'KUSH' gets the emphasis.

Concussion has three syllables: con-cus-sion. Breaking it down helps you pronounce it correctly: con (like the word 'con'), cus (like 'cuss'), and sion (like 'shun').

A concussion is a type of brain injury that happens when your head gets hit hard enough to shake your brain inside your skull. It's often called a 'bump on the brain' in everyday language because it's usually caused by a bump, blow, or sudden jolt to the head.

Concussion comes from the Latin word 'concussus,' which means 'shaken up' or 'violently struck.' The word literally describes what happens—your brain gets shaken or jarred from the impact to your head.

Yes! Words like 'concussed' (having suffered a concussion) and 'percussion' (hitting or striking) share the same Latin root meaning 'to shake' or 'to strike.' You might also hear 'subconcussive' used in sports medicine, which refers to impacts that don't cause a full concussion.

Concussion is sometimes shortened to 'TBI' when doctors are talking about traumatic brain injuries in general, but 'concussion' doesn't have its own common abbreviation. You'll usually just see or hear the full word 'concussion' used.

Sure! Here's an example: 'The athlete was diagnosed with a concussion after taking a hard hit during the game.' The word is used as a noun to name the type of injury someone has experienced.