How to Pronounce Locked-In Syndrome
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Locked-In Syndrome Pronunciation
LOKT-in SIN-drohm
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
LOKT
stress here
in SIN
drohm
3 syllables
What is Locked-In Syndrome?
A rare neurological condition resulting from damage to the pons (part of the brainstem) in which a person is fully conscious and aware but cannot move or communicate due to complete paralysis, typically retaining only vertical eye movements and blinking.
Questions About Locked-In Syndrome
How do you pronounce 'Locked-In Syndrome'?
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Say it like this: LOKT-in SIN-drohm. The first part rhymes with 'locked' (as in a locked door), then you say 'in' (rhymes with 'pin'), then SIN-drohm (where 'SIN' rhymes with 'chin' and 'drohm' rhymes with 'dome'). The stress falls on the first syllable: LOKT.
Which syllable gets the stress in 'Locked-In Syndrome'?
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The stress falls on LOKT, the first syllable of 'Locked-In.' A common mistake is stressing the second word and saying 'locked-IN syndrome,' but the correct way emphasizes the beginning: LOKT-in.
How do you break 'Locked-In Syndrome' into syllables?
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Break it into four syllables: LOKT / in / SIN / drohm. 'Locked-In' is a two-syllable unit (LOKT-in) that acts as a compound adjective, and 'Syndrome' is split into SIN-drohm.
What do the word parts in 'Locked-In Syndrome' mean?
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'Locked-in' comes from everyday English and means trapped or unable to move. 'Syndrome' comes from Greek and means a group of signs or symptoms that happen together. So the whole term literally means 'a grouped set of signs in which someone is locked in.'
What is the plain English way to describe 'Locked-In Syndrome'?
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In simple terms, it describes a state where a person is awake and thinking but cannot move or speak. It's like being fully conscious but unable to communicate with the outside world.
What is the abbreviation for 'Locked-In Syndrome'?
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The abbreviation is LIS, pronounced by saying each letter: L-I-S. You might see it written as 'LIS' in medical documents or research.
What other medical words share the root 'syndrome'?
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Many medical conditions use the word 'syndrome'—like Down Syndrome, Tourette Syndrome, and Marfan Syndrome. They all use 'syndrome' to mean a recognizable group of signs or characteristics that occur together.
How would you use 'Locked-In Syndrome' correctly in a sentence?
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Here's an example: 'The documentary explained how people with Locked-In Syndrome remain fully conscious despite being unable to move.' The term is used as a proper noun (the name of a specific condition) and doesn't need to be capitalized beyond standard rules.