5 syllables: Es, o, phag, i, tis. Stress on phag.
is-uh-FAG-it-is
/ɪsəˈfæɡɪtɪs/
Esophagitis is pronounced is-uh-FAG-it-is (/ɪsəˈfæɡɪtɪs/). It has five syllables (Es-o-phag-i-tis), with the stress on "phag". Esophagitis is the inflammation of the esophagus, often caused by acid reflux, infection, or irritation from medications. It presents with heartburn, chest pain, and trouble swallowing. Diagnosis typically involves endoscopy and treatment targets underlying causes, healing the esophageal lining, and relieving symptoms.
nounEsophagitis is the inflammation of the esophagus, often caused by acid reflux, infection, or irritation from medications. It presents with heartburn, chest pain, and trouble swallowing. Diagnosis typically involves endoscopy and treatment targets underlying causes, healing the esophageal lining, and relieving symptoms.
How to Pronounce Esophagitis
"The patient with chronic acid reflux developed esophagitis and was prescribed proton pump inhibitors."
"Esophagitis can cause painful swallowing and a sensation of a lump in the throat."
"After months of diligent therapy, her esophagitis showed signs of improvement on follow-up endoscopy."
Usual pronunciation is /ˌiː.soʊ.fəˈdʒaɪ.tɪs/ (ee-SOH-fuh-jy-TIS), with primary stress on the third syllable. Break it as e-so-pha-gi-tis: e as a long 'ee' sound, so- as 'so', pha as 'fuh' in quick flow, gi as 'jy' and tis as 'tiss'. In careful speech, emphasize the 'ja' /ˈdʒaɪ/ syllable. For standard audio reference, refer to medical pronunciation channels or reputable dictionaries with IPA audio.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (say e-SO-fa-gitis), mispronouncing 'phag' as 'fag' or 'fay-ug', and running the 'gi' together as /dʒɪ/ instead of /dʒaɪ/. Correct by stressing the /dʒaɪ/ syllable and articulating the 'ph' as /f/, then final /ɪtɪs/. Use slow, isolated practice of the /ˌiː soʊ fəˈdʒaɪ tɪs/ sequence to lock accurate cadence.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˌiːˌsoʊ.fəˈdʒaɪ.tɪs/, with stronger rhotic r influence on vowels preceding rhymes and clear /ˈdʒaɪ/. UK English tends to a slightly less rhotic flavor and may reduce the final syllables, giving /ˌiːˌsəʊ.fəˈdʒaɪ.tɪs/. Australian tends to share non-rhotic tendencies of British speech but with broader vowel qualities; expect /ˌiːsəˈfəːd͡ʒaɪtɪs/ with a slightly broader diphthong in the first vowels. Always check local audio dictionaries for confirmation.
Three challenges: long multisyllabic structure, the sequence /fəˈdʒaɪ/ blends 'f' with the challenging 'dʒaɪ' cluster, and the final /tɪs/ can be swallowed in rapid speech. The pressure to maintain the almost-combined vowel sounds across four syllables strains working memory and muscle precision. Practice by isolating each syllable, emphasizing the /dʒaɪ/ nucleus, and using tongue-tip alveolar positioning for /d͡ʒ/ followed by a clear /aɪ/.
A notable feature is the /ˌiː/ at the start often realized as a long, tense 'ee' that leads into a high-front vowel /əʊ/ or /oʊ/ depending on accent. In careful speech, you can separate into e-so-pha-gi-tis with clear nucleus on /ˈdʒaɪ/; in rapid, fluent speech, the first two vowels may reduce slightly, but the /dʒaɪ/ should remain distinct. Using a neutral initial '~ee-soh-FAH-jy-tis~' map helps learners anchor the rhythm.
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Esophagitis comes from the Greek esophagos (oesophagus, meaning 'gullet' or 'the carrying of food') + -itis, a Latin/Greek suffix used to denote inflammation. The root esophagus traces to Greek oisophagos with the 'phag' root meaning 'to eat' or 'consume.' The medical term entered English via Latinized forms in the 17th–18th centuries as anatomy and gastroenterology advanced. Early descriptions tied inflammation of the esophagus to caustic substances and infections; with the advent of acid-reflux understanding in the 20th century, the term broadened to cover inflammatory etiologies beyond infection. First known usage is documented in early modern medical texts, with standardization in the 19th and 20th centuries as clinicians codified esophageal diseases. The term remains precise, denoting inflammation confined to the esophageal mucosa, distinct from gastritis or enteritis, which involve the stomach or intestines respectively.
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Words that rhyme with "Esophagitis"
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