How to Pronounce Down Syndrome and Endocrine Disease

Say it like this: DOWN SIN-drohm and en-doh-KRIN dih-ZEEZ. The stress falls on SIN in 'syndrome,' en in 'endocrine,' and ZEEZ in 'disease.' It's a phrase with three main words, so you'll use three stressed syllables as you say them together.

The stress falls on the first syllable: EN-doh-krin. A common mistake is putting the stress on the second syllable (en-DOH-krin), but doctors say EN-doh-krin, with the emphasis at the start of the word.

It breaks into four syllables: DOWN SYN-drohm. 'Down' is one syllable by itself, and 'syndrome' splits into three: SYN-drohm-ee... wait, actually just SYN-drohm (two syllables). So the full phrase is DOWN and SYN-drohm.

Endocrine refers to glands in your body that make and release hormones—special chemicals that control how your body works. When doctors say 'endocrine disease,' they mean a problem with these hormone-making glands.

It comes from two Greek word parts: 'endo-' meaning 'inside' and 'crine' meaning 'to release or secrete.' Put together, endocrine literally means 'to release inside,' which describes how these glands release hormones directly into the bloodstream.

You might hear 'endocrinologist' (a doctor who specializes in endocrine glands), 'endocrinology' (the study of endocrine glands), or 'endocrinopathy' (a disease of the endocrine system). All three use that same 'endo-' and 'crine' root.

You might say: 'Her doctor recommended screening for Down Syndrome and Endocrine Disease to monitor certain gland functions.' This shows that you're referring to checking for issues with hormone-making glands in people with Down syndrome.

Doctors might shorten it to just 'Down syndrome' or 'endocrine disease' depending on what they're discussing. Sometimes you'll see it abbreviated as DS (Down syndrome) or in medical writing as 'endocrine dysfunction,' but the full phrase is most clear.