-lalia

1. a combining form used in the formation of nouns denoting abnormal or disordered forms of speech, as specified by the initial element:

   echolalia; glossolalia.

-lalia

combining_form

1. indicating a speech defect or abnormality

   coprolalia

   echolalia

Word History and Origins

Origin of -lalia¹

< New Latin < Greek laliá talking, chatter, equivalent to lal ( eîn ) to chatter, babble + -ia -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of -lalia¹

New Latin, from Greek lalia chatter, from lalein to babble

Example Sentences

“We do not believe the changes made reflect a commitment to freedom of expression as a fundamental human right nor to racial and social justice in global sports,” said the letter, which was posted on the website of the Muhammad Ali Center and also signed by Ali’s daughter, four-time boxing world champion Lalia Ali.

From Seattle Times

The girl’s father screamed, “My little girl’s been shot,” according to Lalia Lara, who works in a cellphone store.

From Washington Times

As hard-partying, chain-smoking attorney Lalia, Mouna Hawa is unstoppable, suffering no fool in her orbit gladly, whether he's a grabby stranger or a flirty colleague.

From Los Angeles Times

The first thirty pages are devoted to the epitaph on Ælia Lælia Crispus.

From Project Gutenberg

Cicero, 8; tribute of, to Lælia, 23; Tulia's letters to, 29.

From Project Gutenberg

Words That Use -lalia

What does -lalia mean?

The combining form -lalia is used like a suffix meaning “abnormal or disordered speech.” It is occasionally used in medical terms, especially in pathology.

The form -lalia comes from Greek laliá, meaning “talking” or “chatter.”

Examples of -lalia

A medical term you may have come across that uses the form -lalia is glossolalia, “incomprehensible speech in an imaginary language, sometimes occurring in a trance state, an episode of religious ecstasy, or schizophrenia.” One form of glossolalia is “speaking in tongues.”

The glosso- part of the word means “tongue, word, speech,” from Greek glôssa. As we have already seen, -lalia means “abnormal or disordered speech.” Glossolalia literally translates to “disordered speech.”

What are some words that use the combining form -lalia?

• alalia
• allolalia
• bradylalia
• dyslalia
• echolalia

What are some other forms that -lalia may be commonly confused with?

• -ally
• -elle
• -ia
• -ile
• -lagnia

Break it down!

The combining form brady- means “slow.” With this in mind, what does bradylalia literally mean?