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How to Pronounce Hypertelorism

Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling

Hypertelorism Pronunciation

hy-per-TEL-oh-riz-em

Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables

Syllable Breakdown

hy
per
TEL

stress here

oh
riz
em

6 syllables

What is Hypertelorism?

An abnormally wide distance between the orbits (eye sockets) caused by overgrowth of the bones at the root of the nose, which is a component of several craniofacial syndromes. It may be associated with craniofrontonasal syndrome and can be corrected surgically.

Questions About Hypertelorism

How do you pronounce hypertelorism?

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Hypertelorism is pronounced "hy-per-TEL-oh-riz-em." The stress falls on the third syllable, which is TEL. Say it like you're saying "higher" but with a "p" sound, then "TEL" (rhymes with "bell"), then "oh-riz-um."

What syllables make up hypertelorism?

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Hypertelorism breaks into 5 syllables: hy-per-TEL-oh-riz-em. Saying each part slowly helps you see how the word builds: "hy" + "per" + "TEL" + "oh" + "riz" + "em."

Which syllable gets the stress, and what's a common mistake?

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The stress belongs on TEL, the third syllable: hy-per-TEL-oh-riz-em. A common mistake is stressing the first syllable and saying "HY-per-tel-oh-riz-em," which changes how the word sounds and makes it harder to understand.

What do the word parts 'hyper' and 'telism' mean?

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"Hyper" comes from Greek and means "over" or "excessive." "Tel" also comes from Greek and relates to "tele," meaning "far" or "distance." Together, the word literally points to an excessive or abnormal distance. The ending "-ism" means "a condition of."

What is hypertelorism in plain English?

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Hypertelorism is simply when the eye sockets are spaced farther apart than usual. It's a term used to describe the distance between the eyes and the bones around them.

What other medical words share the 'hyper' root?

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Many medical words use "hyper" to mean excessive, such as hypertension (high blood pressure) and hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid). Learning the prefix "hyper" helps you understand a whole group of medical terms.

Can you use hypertelorism in a simple sentence?

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Here's an example: "The pediatrician noted that the child had hypertelorism as one of several facial features." This sentence shows how the word is used when describing or documenting what someone observes.

Is there a short abbreviation for hypertelorism?

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Hypertelorism doesn't have a widely used short abbreviation the way some medical terms do. Medical professionals usually just say or write the full word "hypertelorism" when discussing it.

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