-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

Then, as a tremendous crashing sea came over the waist, all the women but Lalia bolted and left us alone.

From Project Gutenberg

Some pious persons have called, among them a very devoted pasteur with his daughter, whose name is Lalia.

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?