How to Pronounce Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Say it like this: non-HOJ-kin lim-FOH-mah. The stress falls on the second part of the word—you say "HOJ" loudly and clearly, then "kin" more softly. The second word sounds like "lim-FOH-mah," with the stress on "FOH."

"Non-Hodgkin" means "not Hodgkin." It's a way of separating this type of lymphoma from another type called Hodgkin lymphoma. Both are blood cancers, but they look different under a microscope and behave differently.

"Lymphoma" comes from two Greek word parts: "lympho" (meaning lymph or lymphatic system) and "oma" (meaning tumor or abnormal growth). So lymphoma literally means a tumor or disease of the lymphatic system.

Break it into parts like this: non-HOJ-kin (three syllables) + lym-PHO-ma (three syllables). Together it's six syllables total: non / HOJ / kin / lym / PHO / ma.

The short form is NHL, which you say by spelling out the letters: "en-aitch-el." Doctors and nurses often use NHL as a quick way to refer to this condition in medical settings.

In plain English, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma is a disease of the lymphatic system—the body's infection-fighting network. It's a type of blood cancer that starts when certain infection-fighting cells grow out of control.

Many people stress the wrong part and say "NON-hodg-kin" instead of "non-HOJ-kin." Remember: the stress goes on "HOJ," not on "NON" at the beginning. Also, be careful not to say "lim-FOE-muh" instead of "lim-FOH-mah."

Other lymphoma types use the same root, like Hodgkin lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma. You'll also hear lymphocyte (a type of white blood cell) and lymphatic system—these all come from the same Greek word for lymph.