How to Pronounce Stridor
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Stridor Pronunciation
STRY-dor
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
STRY
stress here
dor
2 syllables
What is Stridor?
A harsh, high-pitched, noisy breathing sound caused by turbulent airflow through a narrowed upper airway, which can occur during inhalation (inspiratory), exhalation (expiratory), or both. It is a sign — not a diagnosis — indicating obstruction that requires urgent evaluation to determine the cause.
Questions About Stridor
How do you pronounce 'stridor'?
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Stridor is pronounced STRY-dor, with the stress on the first syllable. Say it like you're combining "stry" (rhymes with "try") with "dor" (rhymes with "or"). The first syllable should be louder and longer than the second.
What is the stressed syllable in 'stridor'?
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The first syllable, STRY, is stressed. A common mistake is putting equal weight on both syllables or stressing the second one, but you should emphasize STRY-dor, not stry-DOR.
How do you break 'stridor' into syllables?
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Stridor breaks into two syllables: stri-dor. The first syllable contains the long "i" sound, and the second syllable is just "dor."
What does 'stridor' mean in plain English?
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Stridor refers to a harsh, high-pitched, noisy sound that a person makes when breathing. Think of it as a whistling or wheezing sound that doctors can hear when listening to someone's breathing.
What is the origin of the word 'stridor'?
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Stridor comes from Latin, where it originally meant "a harsh sound" or "a creaking noise." The Romans used this word to describe any kind of harsh, grating sound, and doctors borrowed it to describe this particular type of noisy breathing.
What related words share the same root as 'stridor'?
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The word 'stridulous' (STRID-yuh-lus) is related and means "making a strident or harsh sound." You might also hear 'stridency' used to describe the quality of being harsh or shrill, though that's used more generally in everyday language.
How would you use 'stridor' in a simple sentence?
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You might say: "The doctor heard stridor when she listened to the child's breathing" or "Stridor is a sign that something is blocking the upper airway." The word is always used as a noun to name the sound itself.
Is there a short abbreviation for 'stridor'?
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Stridor doesn't have a standard abbreviation that is commonly used or recognized. Medical professionals simply say or write out the full word 'stridor' when referring to this type of breathing sound.