Posts tagged terminology

Saying “Diabetes”

I have heard doctors pronounce the word “diabetes” in many different ways that it has led to question the idea of a standard pronunciation. Of course, dialects and accents will continue to play a role in how it is verbalized. 

I personally use the pronunciation “Die-Ah-Bee-Tees.”

I have also heard “Die-Ah-Bee-Tus” and “Die-Ah-Bee-Tis.”

So how do you say the word “diabetes?” For the international community, how do you pronounce “diabetes” in your own language?

I work in EMS and am currently majoring in biology as an undergrad, I've noticed a difference in pronunciation between professors and those in the field in regards to systole/diastole. I know it's correctly pronounced sis-tol-ee, but I'm curious if those who teach in medical schools are sticklers about it, and if doctors use the two pronunciations interchangeably. — Asked by marxsparty

I personally do not feel that anyone is a stickler about pronunciation. As long as you know what the word is and can write it out most have no problem with how you pronounce it, provided it is not completely wrong. Like the word “either” or “schedule,” some words are recognized as having slightly different pronunciations; the same goes for medical terminology. The caveat of course is to make sure you pronounce the word consistently. I know someone who was called out for trying to look smart saying a very technical and complicated word and ended up saying it differently on two occasions.