How to Pronounce Graves' Disease

Graves' Disease is pronounced GRAYVZ dih-ZEEZ. The first syllable rhymes with "waves" or "saves," and the second word sounds like "disease" with the stress on the second syllable (dih-ZEEZ, not DIZ-ease).

The stress falls on the first syllable of "Graves'" (GRAYVZ), so you say it with emphasis: GRAYVZ dih-zeez. A common mistake is stressing the second word instead, but "disease" should be spoken more lightly after the strong GRAYVZ.

Graves' Disease breaks into four syllables: Graves' (1 syllable) + dis-ease (2 syllables) = GRAYVZ / dih / ZEEZ. Some people also say it as three syllables by shortening it to GRAYVZ-duh-ZEEZ, but either way works.

Graves' Disease is named after Robert James Graves, an Irish doctor who described this condition in the 1800s. Medical conditions are often named after the doctors or scientists who first identified them, which is why you'll see the possessive apostrophe in "Graves'."

Graves' Disease is a thyroid disorder where the body's immune system causes the thyroid gland to work overtime and produce too much thyroid hormone. It's an autoimmune condition, meaning the body's defense system mistakenly attacks its own thyroid.

Graves' Disease is sometimes abbreviated as GD in medical writing and conversation. Doctors and healthcare workers might also refer to it simply as "Graves'" when the context is clear.

Words like "hyperthyroidism" and "thyroiditis" are related because they all involve the thyroid gland. "Thyroid" comes from Greek and means "shield-shaped," referring to the shape of the gland in your neck. Graves' Disease is actually a type of hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone).

Here's an example: "The patient was referred to an endocrinologist for evaluation of suspected Graves' Disease." Notice that "Graves'" is capitalized and has the possessive apostrophe because it's named after a person.