# alexithymia

> English word · Noun · IPA /əˌlɛk.sɪˈθaɪ.mi.ə/

## Definitions
1. A deficiency in understanding, processing, or describing emotions.

## Etymology
From a- + lexi + -thymia.
Created by psychiatrists John Case Nemiah and Peter Sifneos from Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-, “not”) + λέξις (léxis, “speaking”) + θυμός (thumós, “heart”), meaning “without words for emotions”.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/alexithymia