Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| síndrome de Tourette | /sindɾome de touɾette/ (from spelling rules) | standard |
| Tourette | colloquial | |
| trastorno de Tourette | formal | |
| síndrome de Gilles de la Tourette | formal, full name |
You can say tiene síndrome de Tourette for "he has Tourette's". In a sentence with an article it is el síndrome de Tourette. Tics are called tics, and the plural is the same word.
Which one should you use?
Síndrome and trastorno both mean a condition in this name, and trastorno is the term more often used in clinical manuals. The full name is síndrome de Gilles de la Tourette.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both síndrome and trastorno are masculine, so you say el síndrome and el trastorno. After tener (to have) the article is usually dropped: tiene síndrome de Tourette.
How do you pronounce it?
The name is French, and Spanish speakers say it close to the French, roughly too-RET.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English uses the possessive Tourette's, but Spanish uses de Tourette with no final s.
When do people say it?
Only a minority of people with the condition shout or say offensive words, which is called coprolalia. Most have motor tics or simple sounds.
Did you know?
- The condition is named after the French neurologist Georges Gilles de la Tourette, who described it in 1885.
Examples in context
- Mi hermano tiene síndrome de Tourette.My brother has Tourette's syndrome.
- El síndrome de Tourette causa tics motores y vocales.Tourette's syndrome causes motor and vocal tics.
- Los tics son movimientos o sonidos involuntarios.Tics are involuntary movements or sounds.
Example conversation
Ana asks Dr. Ruiz about the condition after her son is diagnosed.
- AnaDoctor, ¿qué es el síndrome de Tourette?Doctor, what is Tourette's syndrome?
- Dr. RuizEs un trastorno neurológico que causa tics.It is a neurological disorder that causes tics.
- Ana¿Los tics son voluntarios?Are the tics voluntary?
- Dr. RuizNo, son movimientos o sonidos involuntarios.No, they are involuntary movements or sounds.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
