How to Pronounce Plaque Psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis is pronounced 'plak soh-RY-ah-sis.' The first word rhymes with 'back,' and the second word starts with a silent 'p'—you just say 'soh-RY-ah-sis.' The stress falls on the second syllable of psoriasis, so you emphasize the 'RY' part.

The 'ps' at the start of psoriasis is silent—you don't say the 'p' at all. Just begin with the 's' sound, so it sounds like 'soh-RY-ah-sis.' This silent 'p' comes from the word's Greek roots.

Plaque is one syllable: 'plak.' Psoriasis breaks into four syllables: 'so-RY-ah-sis.' Together, the full phrase has five syllables total.

In this term, 'plaque' refers to raised patches or bumps on the skin. It comes from the Latin word meaning 'tablet' or 'flat surface,' which fits because these skin patches appear as flat or slightly raised areas.

Plaque psoriasis is the medical name for red, raised, scaly patches on the skin. In simpler terms, it's a skin condition where the affected areas look thick, inflamed, and covered with white or silvery flakes.

Most people simply say 'psoriasis' when speaking generally, but 'plaque psoriasis' is the specific medical term that tells you exactly which type. There isn't a common abbreviation for it like some other medical terms have.

You might hear 'psoriatic' used to describe things related to psoriasis, like 'psoriatic arthritis.' All these words come from the same Greek root and share the same 'silent p' pronunciation.

You might say: 'My doctor explained that I have plaque psoriasis, which is why I have those thick, scaly patches on my elbows.' This shows you're talking about the specific type of skin condition, not psoriasis in general.