Digestive Diseases Dictionary
Some terms listed have many meanings; only those meanings that relate to digestion or digestive diseases are included. Words that appear in bold italic are listed elsewhere in the dictionary.
Information in this dictionary is not a substitute for a visit to your doctor. Talk with a health professional if you have a digestive problem.
The U.S. Government does not endorse or favor any specific commercial product or company. Trade, proprietary, or company names appearing in this document are used only because they are considered necessary in the context of the information provided. If a product is not mentioned, the omission does not mean or imply that the product is unsatisfactory.
Pronunciation Guide
This pronunciation guide uses letters and letter combinations, rather than phonetic symbols, to stand for the various sounds in the English language.
Vowels |
| a |
|
cat, bat |
| ah |
|
father |
| air |
|
pear, hair |
| ar |
|
park |
| ay |
|
say, came, weigh |
| aw |
|
saw, bought |
| e |
|
bet, set |
| |
eh |
(used at the end of a syllable or when standing alone)
examples:
meadow (MEH-doh)
enemy (EH-nuh-mee)
but
diet (DY-et) |
| ee |
|
feet, neat |
| i |
|
sit, igloo |
| |
ih |
(used at the end of a syllable or when standing alone)
examples:
chicken (CHIH-ken)
miracle (MIHR-ih-kuhl)
but
picnic (PIK-nik) |
| ihr |
|
near, here |
| y |
|
fire, idol |
| |
eye |
(used at the beginning of a syllable or when standing alone)
examples: iron (EYE-urn)
chloride (KLOR-eyed)
but
silent (SY-luhnt) |
| o |
|
hot, cot |
| oh |
|
coat, home |
| oo |
|
food, rude |
| or |
|
tore, soar, for |
| oy |
|
soil, boy |
| ou |
|
now, couch |
| u |
|
put, foot |
| uh |
|
about, sum, china |
| ur |
|
hurt, alert |
| yoo |
|
use |
| yoor |
|
cure |
Consonants |
| b |
|
bat, job |
| ch |
|
chop, itch |
| d |
|
dig, bed |
| f |
|
fur, tough, calf |
| g |
|
grape, big |
| h |
|
happy |
| j |
|
joke, nudge |
| k |
|
kite, car, tack |
| l |
|
lip, sell |
| m |
|
move, jam |
| n |
|
not, knee |
| ng |
|
ring |
| p |
|
play, hop |
| r |
|
rain, fur |
| s |
|
set, tips |
| ss |
|
bus, guess, fence |
| sh |
|
shy, fish |
| t |
|
toy, boat |
| th |
|
breath |
| v |
|
vine, have |
| w |
|
walk, where |
| y |
|
yes |
| z |
|
zip, jazz, has |
| zh |
|
measure |
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
2 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3570
Phone: 1–800–891–5389
TTY: 1–866–569–1162
Fax: 703–738–4929
Email: nddic@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1980, the Clearinghouse provides information about digestive diseases to people with digestive disorders and to their families, health care professionals, and the public. The NDDIC answers inquiries, develops and distributes publications, and works closely with professional and patient organizations and Government agencies to coordinate resources about digestive diseases.
This publication is not copyrighted. The Clearinghouse encourages users of this publication to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired.
NIH Publication No. 09–2750
March 2009
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