echolalia

[ ek-oh-ley-lee-uh ]
/ ˌɛk oʊˈleɪ li ə /

noun

Psychiatry. the uncontrollable and immediate repetition of words spoken by another person.
the imitation by a baby of the vocal sounds produced by others, occurring as a natural phase of childhood development.

Origin of echolalia

First recorded in 1880–85; echo + -lalia

OTHER WORDS FROM echolalia

ech·o·lal·ic [ek-oh-lal-ik, -ley-lik] /ˌɛk oʊˈlæl ɪk, -ˈleɪ lɪk/, adjective

Words nearby echolalia

echograph, echography, echoic, echoic memory, echoism, echolalia, echolocation, echomimia, echomotism, echopathy, echophrasia

Example sentences from the Web for echolalia

British Dictionary definitions for echolalia

echolalia
/ (ˌɛkəʊˈleɪlɪə) /

noun

psychiatry the tendency to repeat mechanically words just spoken by another person: can occur in cases of brain damage, mental retardation, and schizophrenia

Derived forms of echolalia

echolalic (ˌɛkəʊˈlælɪk), adjective

Word Origin for echolalia

C19: from New Latin, from echo + Greek lalia talk, chatter, from lalein to chatter

Medical definitions for echolalia

echolalia
[ ĕk′ō-lā′lē-ə ]

n.

The immediate and involuntary repetition of words or phrases just spoken by others, often a symptom of autism or some types of schizophrenia. echophrasia
An infant's repetition of the sounds made by others, a normal occurrence in childhood development. echophrasia

Other words from echolalia

ech′o•la′lic (-lĭk) adj.