Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

-itis

/-ˈaɪtɪs/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.70 in modern English

Syllables
-i-tis
IPA
/-ˈaɪtɪs/
4
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
3
Syllables
3
Unique Chars

Meaning

suffix

Denoting diseases characterized by inflammation, itself often caused by an infection.

Uncountable

suffix

Used to form the names of various fictitious afflictions or diseases.

Humorous; Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

From New Latin -itis, from Ancient Greek -ῖτις (-îtis, “pertaining to”). This is the feminine form of adjectival suffix -ῑ́της (-ī́tēs). The English suffix derives from the feminine form due to its use with the feminine noun νόσος (nósos, “disease”), particularly with ἀρθρῖτις (νόσος) (arthrîtis (nósos), “disease of the joints”) (one of the earliest English borrowings from which the suffix was extracted and abstracted). Adding "-itis" to the end of a word or phrase can give a humorous sense by generalization.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Usage

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in Medicine.

Inflected Forms

-itides (plural, uncommon) -itises (plural, rare) -ites (plural, rare)

Derived Forms

adenitis adnexitis alveolitis angiitis apocrinitis appendicitis arthritis balanitis blepharitis bronchiolitis bronchitis bronchoalveolitis

Phrases

plantar fasciitis demo-itis get-there-itis go-itis -osis

Frequently Paired Words

-osis

Questions

How do you pronounce -itis?
The recorded pronunciation is /-ˈaɪtɪs/.
What does -itis mean?
Denoting diseases characterized by inflammation, itself often caused by an infection.
Where does -itis come from?
It is traced to Ancient Greek.

How to pronounce -itis

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “-itis”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/-ˈaɪtɪs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “-itis”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “-itis” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.