Definition

The automatic and often involuntary repetition of words or phrases that someone has just heard, commonly seen in certain psychological conditions.

Example

The child exhibited echolalia by repeating everything the teacher said during the lesson.

Conversation

I read an article about echolalia and found it really interesting.

Oh really? I’ve heard that it can be a common behavior in some kids.

Yeah, it said that people sometimes repeat what they hear without realizing it.

That makes sense; it’s fascinating how our brains work in different ways.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Echolalia → It is formed from "echo" (from Greek "ēchō", meaning sound or to resound) and "-lalia" (from Greek "lalia", meaning speech or talk). The word "echolalia" refers to the repetition of phrases or sounds, often as a form of communication.

Memory Tip

Think of 'echo' as a sound that repeats and 'lalia' as speech — so echolalia means repeating speech like an echo.

Visually Confused Words