How to Pronounce Total Artificial Heart

Say it like this: TOH-tal ar-TIH-fih-shul hart. The first word rhymes with "go" and "total," the second word sounds like "artificial" with the stress on the middle syllable (TIH), and the last word is just "heart" like you'd normally say it.

The stress falls on TOH in "Total" and TIH in "Artificial." A common mistake is putting the stress on fih instead of TIH—remember that the middle part of "artificial" is where the emphasis goes.

Break it into parts like this: TO-tal AR-ti-fi-cial HART. That's 6 syllables total, with "artificial" being the longest word at 4 syllables on its own.

In this context, "total" means complete or whole—it's called "total" because the device replaces the entire function of the heart, not just part of it. It comes from the Latin word "totalis," which means "of or belonging to the whole."

"Artificial" means made by humans rather than occurring naturally in the body. It comes from the Latin word "artificium," which refers to something that is human-made or crafted.

Yes, doctors and medical professionals often use the abbreviation TAH. You say it by spelling out the letters: T-A-H.

A "Total Artificial Heart" is a mechanical pump that is surgically placed inside the body to do the job that a real heart does—pushing blood to all parts of the body. It's a human-made device that completely takes over for a failing heart.

Words like "artifact," "artifice," and "artisan" all share the Latin root "art-" or "artificium," meaning something made or crafted by human skill. "Artificial" is used in many medical terms like "artificial limb" or "artificial respiration."

Here's an example: "The doctors explained that the patient would receive a Total Artificial Heart to keep him alive while waiting for a donor organ." You can also say "the patient received a TAH" using the abbreviation in conversation.