5 syllables: Pe, ri, car, di, tis. Stress on car.
puh-rik-AHR-dit-is
/pəˌɹɪˈkɑɹdɪtɪs/
Pericarditis is pronounced puh-rik-AHR-dit-is (/pəˌɹɪˈkɑɹdɪtɪs/). It has five syllables (Pe-ri-car-di-tis), with the stress on "car". Pericarditis is the inflammation of the pericardium, the double-layered sac surrounding the heart. It typically presents with sharp chest pain and characteristic ECG changes, and may stem from infection, autoimmune disease, or injury. The term combines medical roots that identify the pericardium (peri-) and inflammation (-carditis).
nounPericarditis is the inflammation of the pericardium, the double-layered sac surrounding the heart. It typically presents with sharp chest pain and characteristic ECG changes, and may stem from infection, autoimmune disease, or injury. The term combines medical roots that identify the pericardium (peri-) and inflammation (-carditis).
"The patient was diagnosed with acute pericarditis after several days of chest pain."
"Treatment focused on reducing inflammation and relieving symptoms in suspected viral pericarditis."
"Chronic pericarditis can lead to constrictive physiology requiring diverse management."
Say per-i-CAR-di-tis with primary stress on the third syllable: /ˌpɛrɪˈkɑːrdaɪtɪs/. Break it as per-i-CAR-di-tis. The
Common errors: flattening the middle syllable to /ˌpɛrɪˈkɑːdɪtɪs/ or misplacing stress on the first syllable. Correct by preserving the second-to-last syllable stress: /ˌpɛrɪˈkɑːrdaɪtɪs/. Keep the 'ca' as /kɑː/ and the final /tɪs/. Practice with slow deliberate syllables to avoid rushing the 'daɪ' portion.
In US English, the primary stress lands on the third syllable: /ˌpɛrɪˈkɑːrdaɪtɪs/. UK typically mirrors that but can show a slightly shorter vowel in /ˈkɑː/ depending on speaker. Australian may reduce the /ɪ/ in unstressed positions and show subtle vowel length differences, but the main stress pattern remains third syllable. Overall, rhythm and vowel quality are more language- and speaker-specific than systemically different.
It challenges non-native speakers because it combines four syllables with a long diphthong in the ‘daɪ’ and a multi-consonant cluster at the onset of the final syllable. The sequence ‘-cardi-’ contains a mid-central vowel shift in some dialects, and the 'ti' is pronounced as /tɪ/ rather than /si/. Mastery requires attention to syllable timing, mouth positions, and stress. Practicing with IPA helps ensure accuracy.
Why is the 'peri-' prefix pronounced clearly when saying ‘pericarditis’, and how does it affect the timing of the stress pattern?
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Pericarditis derives from the Greek words peri-, meaning 'around', and kardia, meaning 'heart', combined with -itis, a Greek-derived suffix indicating inflammation. The term reflects the condition of inflammation around the heart. The prefix peri- is a common medical root used to denote surrounding structures (e.g., peritoneum, perineal), while -itis has been in medical usage since ancient Greek medical theories, entering English through Latinized forms in the 18th and 19th centuries. The word first appeared in medical literature in the 19th century as cardiovascular diseases became better characterized, with early clinicians distinguishing pericarditis from myocarditis and pericardial effusion. Over time, the term solidified in clinical diagnoses and modern cardiology literature as imaging and labs improved our understanding of pericardial inflammation and its etiologies, including viral, bacterial, autoimmune, and post-surgical causes.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Pericarditis" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Pericarditis"
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