How to Pronounce Separation Anxiety Disorder
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Separation Anxiety Disorder Pronunciation
sep-ah-RAY-shun ANG-zy-eh-tee dis-OR-der
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
sep
ah
RAY
stress here
shun ANG
zy
eh
tee dis
OR
stress here
der
9 syllables
What is Separation Anxiety Disorder?
An anxiety disorder in which a person experiences excessive fear or anxiety about separation from people to whom they are attached, beyond what is developmentally expected. Although often associated with children, it can also occur in adults and may significantly disrupt daily functioning.
Questions About Separation Anxiety Disorder
How do you pronounce 'Separation Anxiety Disorder'?
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Say it like this: sep-ah-RAY-shun ANG-zy-eh-tee dis-OR-der. The stress (or emphasis) falls on the third syllable of the first word (RAY) and on the first syllable of the second word (ANG). If you say it slowly at first, it becomes easier to put the emphasis in the right places.
Which syllable gets the most stress when you say this term?
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The strongest stress is on RAY in 'separation' (sep-ah-RAY-shun), and the second-strongest stress is on ANG in 'anxiety' (ANG-zy-eh-tee). A common mistake is stressing the wrong syllable in 'separation'—remember that it's not SEP-ah-ray-shun, but sep-ah-RAY-shun.
How do you break 'Separation Anxiety Disorder' into syllables?
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Break it like this: sep-ah-RAY-shun (4 syllables) + ANG-zy-eh-tee (4 syllables) + dis-OR-der (3 syllables). That's 11 syllables total, which sounds like a lot, but taking it one syllable at a time makes it manageable.
What does the word 'separation' mean in plain English?
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'Separation' simply means being apart from someone or something. In this term, it refers to the act of being away from people you are close to or care about.
What does 'anxiety' mean, and why is it in this term?
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'Anxiety' means feeling worried, nervous, or fearful. It's in this term because the disorder involves excessive worry or fear that happens when a person is separated from someone they are attached to.
What do the word parts of 'Separation Anxiety Disorder' mean?
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'Separation' comes from the Latin word 'separare,' which means to divide or set apart. 'Anxiety' comes from the Latin 'anxietas,' meaning worry or uneasiness. 'Disorder' comes from the Latin 'dis-' (meaning wrong or not) and 'ordinare' (meaning to arrange), so it describes a condition that is not functioning normally.
What is a simpler way to say 'Separation Anxiety Disorder'?
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In everyday language, you might call it 'separation anxiety'—that's the short form. It refers to excessive fear about being away from someone you're attached to, beyond what would normally be expected for your age.
Can you use 'Separation Anxiety Disorder' in a simple sentence?
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Here's an example: 'The doctor used the term 'Separation Anxiety Disorder' to describe the patient's excessive worry about being apart from family members.' This shows how the term is used in a medical context.

