| velopharyngeal insufficiency |
| Definition: A condition where the uvula doesn't properly close against the back of the throat, causing excess air to come down from the nose. This results in very nasally speech. |
| Example: When people with this condition try to make /b/ sounds, they make /m/ sounds instead. |
| Etymology: The first OED citation for the word pharynx is from 1693. It derives from the Greek pharynx, windpipe or throat. |