echolalia

Meaning

Noun

• The immediate, involuntary, and repetitive echoing of words or phrases spoken by another.
• An infant's repetitive imitation of vocal sounds spoken by another person, occurring naturally during childhood development.
• Any apparently meaningless, repetitious noises, especially voices.

Origin

• From echo + -lalia; Latin ēchō from Ancient Greek ἠχώ ("reflected sound, echo"), and -lalia from Ancient Greek λαλιά ("talk, chat").