How to Pronounce Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection Pronunciation
non-too-BER-kyoo-lus my-koh-bak-TEER-ee-al in-FEK-shun
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
non
too
BER
stress here
kyoo
lus my
koh
bak
TEER
stress here
ee
al in
FEK
stress here
shun
12 syllables
What is Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection?
Mycobacteria are a type of germ. There are many different kinds. The most common one causes tuberculosis. Another one causes leprosy. Still others cause infections ...
Definition sourced from MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
Questions About Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection
How do you pronounce 'nontuberculous mycobacterial infection'?
+
Say it like this: non-too-BER-kyoo-lus my-koh-bak-TEER-ee-al in-FEK-shun. The stress falls on BER in the first part and TEER in the middle part. It's a long word, so take it in chunks and you'll get it!
Which syllable gets the emphasis when you say this word?
+
The word has two main stress points: BER in 'nontuberculous' and TEER in 'mycobacterial.' Most people naturally emphasize these two spots, which is correct. Don't stress the 'non' at the beginning or the last syllable.
What does 'mycobacterial' mean in plain English?
+
'Mycobacterial' refers to a type of bacteria called mycobacteria. The 'myco-' part comes from Greek and means 'fungus-like,' and 'bacterial' refers to bacteria. Together, it's just a fancy way of saying 'related to mycobacteria.'
What does 'nontuberculous' mean?
+
'Nontuberculous' means 'not tuberculosis.' The prefix 'non-' means 'not,' and 'tuberculous' relates to tuberculosis. So this term describes mycobacteria that are NOT the ones that cause tuberculosis.
How many syllables does 'nontuberculous mycobacterial infection' have?
+
The full phrase has 16 syllables: non-tu-ber-cu-lous my-co-bac-te-ri-al in-fec-tion. Breaking it into smaller parts makes it easier to learn and say.
What is a common mispronunciation of this word?
+
People often say 'non-too-ber-KYOO-lus' by stressing the wrong part. Remember: the stress should be on BER, not on KYOO. Also, avoid saying 'mycobacteria' as one rushed sound—slow down and say 'my-koh-bak-TEER-ee-al.'
Is there a shorter way to refer to nontuberculous mycobacterial infection?
+
Yes, doctors often use the abbreviation 'NTM' for nontuberculous mycobacterial infections. You say it as three separate letters: 'N-T-M.' This is much faster than saying the whole phrase!
What other medical words share the root 'mycobacterial'?
+
'Mycobacterium' is the root word—it's the actual name of the bacteria. You'll also hear 'mycobacteremia,' which means mycobacteria in the bloodstream. All these words start with 'myco-' and relate to this special type of bacteria.