4 syllables: E, cho, la, lia. Stress on la.
ek-uh-LAY-lee-uh
/ɛkəˈleɪliə/
Echolalia is pronounced ek-uh-LAY-lee-uh (/ɛkəˈleɪliə/). It has four syllables (E-cho-la-lia), with the stress on "la". Echolalia is a language phenomenon in which a person involuntarily imitates or repeats another's words or sounds. It is often observed in developmental or neurological contexts, and can occur as immediate or delayed repetition. The term covers both automatic echoing and purposeless phoneme reproduction, reflecting atypical speech patterns rather than expressive language.”.
nounEcholalia is a language phenomenon in which a person involuntarily imitates or repeats another's words or sounds. It is often observed in developmental or neurological contexts, and can occur as immediate or delayed repetition. The term covers both automatic echoing and purposeless phoneme reproduction, reflecting atypical speech patterns rather than expressive language.”
"The child showed echolalia, repeating phrases he just heard from his favorite TV show."
"In some autism assessments, clinicians note echolalia as part of communicative development."
"After the model repeated the sentence, the patient used echolalia as a bridge to form a more independent response."
Pronounce as eh-koh-LAY-lee-uh. Stress falls on the third syllable: echolalia. IPA (US/UK/AU) = US: ɪˌkɒləˈleɪliə, UK: ˌiːkəˈleɪlɪə, AU: ˌiːkəˈleɪl.jə. Start with a short 'eh' (as in “bed”), glide into a de- or di- prefix, then a clear ‘lay’ syllable, followed by a lighter ‘lee-uh’ ending. Pay attention to the rhotics and vowel durations: the middle /ə/ can be reduced in rapid speech.
Common mistakes: (1) Misplacing stress on the first syllable (e-CHO-lalia instead of e-cho-LA-lia). (2) Flattening the /ɔ/ into a short /o/ or mispronouncing /ɒ/ versus /ɒlə/ segments. (3) Slurring the final -ia into a single syllable. Correction tips: emphasize the middle stress by slightly lengthening the /leɪ/ and ensure a clean /liə/ or /liə/ ending with a rounded mouth for the /iə/.
US typically: ɪˌkɒləˈleɪliə with a rhotacized /ɹ/ influence in some speakers and clearer /ɒ/. UK: ˌiːkəˈleɪlɪə, with reduced rhotics and slightly shorter /ɒ/ sounds. AU: ˌiːkəˈleɪl.jə, often with a flatter diphthong in the final syllables and less final /ə/ coloration. Across accents, the main shifts are vowel quality in the first syllable, rhoticity in the US, and final syllable vowel reduction in casual speech.
It challenges you with multisyllabic rhythm, exact stress placement, and a sequence of closely related vowels. The middle /lə/–/leɪ/ transition requires precise vowel shifting and a clear /l/ onset. The final /iə/ (or /jə/) can blur in fast speech. Additionally, the combination of /-lɪə/ or /-liə/ can mix with the preceding /lə/ cluster, so you must separate syllables with light timing and a small pause or stress cue between the syllables.
There are no silent letters in echolalia; every syllable is phonetically active though the final -ia often reduces in casual speech. The unique aspect is the emphasis pattern: a relatively strong secondary stress on the second syllable (e.g., e-CHO-lalia) in many variants, with the main emphasis on the third syllable. Recognize that some speakers may reduce the final vowels in quick speech, so listening for the audible endings helps confirm accuracy.
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Echolalia comes from the Greek prefix echo- meaning “sound” or “to sound again” and lalia from lalein meaning “to speak.” The term first appeared in medical literature in the early 20th century as clinicians described repetitive, echo-like speech patterns in patients with neurological or developmental conditions. The root echo- derives from ancient Greek myth of Echo, a nymph who could only repeat what others said, which nicely mirrors the phenomenon of involuntary replication. Over time, echolalia has been studied across neurology, psychiatry, and speech-language pathology, with dialectical and developmental variations noted in children and adults. While once viewed primarily as a symptom, contemporary perspectives recognize echolalia as a potential step in language processing or social communication, offering insight into receptive-productive language coordination and cognitive processing in diverse populations.
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Words that rhyme with "Echolalia"
-lia sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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