echolalia

American  

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

noun

1. Psychiatry. the uncontrollable and immediate repetition of words spoken by another person.

2. the imitation by a baby of the vocal sounds produced by others, occurring as a natural phase of childhood development.

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echolalia British  

/ ˌɛkəʊˈlælɪk, ˌɛkəʊˈleɪlɪə /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• echolalic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of echolalia

First recorded in 1880–85; echo + -lalia

Explanation

The repetition of other people's words or sounds is echolalia. When the toddler you babysit repeats everything you say, over and over again, you can call it "annoying," or you can call it echolalia. Echolalia is a psychiatric term that's used to describe what some people with mental disorders or autism tend to do, automatically repeat what they hear other people say. There's no meaning intended in echolalia — it's simply a mechanical echoing of sounds. Babies do this too, when they're learning to speak. The word echolalia combines the Greek word for "resound, or echo," with lalia, or "speech."

Example Sentences

Some are mentally soothed by repeating specific words or phrases, a phenomenon known as echolalia, which can be misinterpreted by someone unfamiliar with the trait as mocking or uncooperative.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Yewdall, who had limited verbal skills, often repeated words and phrases she heard other people say, a condition called echolalia.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 27, 2022

The repetition of speech is called echolalia and is a common sign of autism.

From Washington Post • Apr. 30, 2022

He explained that echolalia is a common feature in kids like Owen.

From New York Times • Mar. 7, 2014

Rumfoord went on insisting for several hours that Billy had echolalia—told nurses and a doctor that Billy had echolalia now.

From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut