otite

ear infection, otitis

noun oh-TEET Rare

Origin: Greek ōtos 'ear' + -ite (inflammation suffix)

Usage Note

Otite is the standard medical and everyday term for an ear infection in French. It is especially common in speech about children — une otite moyenne (middle ear infection). The plural des otites is frequently heard in paediatric contexts. Related: oreille (ear).

Examples

"L'enfant pleure à cause d'une otite."

Natural Translation

The child is crying because of an ear infection.

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