How to Pronounce Pellagra
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Pellagra Pronunciation
peh-LAH-grah
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
peh
LAH
stress here
grah
3 syllables
What is Pellagra?
A nutritional disease caused by severe deficiency of niacin (vitamin B3) or tryptophan, characterized by the "4 Ds": dermatitis (a photosensitive rash), diarrhea, dementia, and death if untreated. It was historically associated with diets dependent primarily on corn.
Questions About Pellagra
How do you pronounce pellagra?
+
Pellagra is pronounced peh-LAH-grah. The stress (loudest part) falls on the second syllable: LAH. Say it like you're saying "peh" softly, then "LAH" loudly and clearly, then finish with "grah."
What are the syllables in pellagra?
+
Pellagra breaks into three syllables: pel-la-gra. When you say it out loud, it sounds like three separate beats: PEL-lah-GRAH, but remember that LAH is the stressed syllable.
Which syllable do people stress incorrectly?
+
People often mistakenly stress the first syllable and say PEL-ah-grah, but that's wrong. The correct way puts the stress on the second syllable: peh-LAH-grah. Listen carefully to that middle LAH sound—it should be the loudest part.
What does the word pellagra come from?
+
Pellagra comes from Italian words: "pelle" (skin) and "agra" (rough or sour). The name makes sense because the condition causes rough, damaged skin as one of its main features.
What is pellagra in simple, everyday words?
+
Pellagra is a disease caused by not getting enough of a certain B vitamin. The word basically means "rough skin" because a scaly, damaged rash is one of the main signs you'd notice with this condition.
Are there other medical words related to pellagra?
+
Yes! Words like dermatitis (skin inflammation) and niacin (the vitamin involved) are closely related. You might also hear about other deficiency diseases like beriberi or scurvy, which work similarly but come from different vitamin shortages.
How would you use pellagra in a sentence?
+
You might read in a history book: "In the early 1900s, pellagra was common in parts of the American South where people ate mainly corn." This is just stating a historical fact about when and where the condition appeared.
Is there a short form or abbreviation for pellagra?
+
Pellagra doesn't have a common abbreviation. Doctors and scientists simply use the full word "pellagra" when discussing or writing about this condition.