Repeating Words: A Developmental Phase or Something More?

“Do you want a cookie?” asks a parent.

“Cookie?” echoes their toddler.

It might sound like the child is just mimicking words, but that little echo can do a lot of work. The child may be practicing new sounds, figuring out how sentences fit together, or even answering the question in the only way they know how.

We all learn language by listening and repeating, but sometimes this echoing goes beyond childhood. Known as echolalia, it can also occur in autism and other neurological or psychiatric conditions. From a toddler learning how to talk to an adult repeating a familiar phrase for comfort, echolalia reveals just how many roles repetition can play in language and communication.

From Language Learning to Repetition

Echolalia is a speech phenomenon in which a person repeats words, phrases, or sentences spoken by others. It can happen immediately, as when a child repeats a question, or later, when someone repeats words or phrases heard in the past, whether from conversations, songs, movies, or other sources.

In early childhood, echolalia is a normal part of language development. Toddlers learn by imitation, repeating words and phrases as they figure out how language works. A child might say “Time for bed!” while playing with a doll, echo “What’s that?” after hearing an adult ask the question, or recite a cartoon theme song. These repetitions help children practice pronunciation, learn sentence patterns, and gradually develop their own speech. Sometimes, echoing a question such as “Do you want a snack?” can serve as a "Yes." Echolalia is common in the first few years of life, often diminishing as children develop more fluent speech, typically by around age three (Stollznow, 2026).

However, echolalia that persists, is unusually pronounced, or occurs alongside other developmental differences may warrant closer attention. It is a recognized feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), although not all autistic people experience it. Some autistic children and adults use repeated phrases to communicate needs, participate in conversations, process information, or manage overwhelming situations.

Echolalia also occurs in other conditions, including Tourette syndrome, schizophrenia, epilepsy, aphasia, and other neurological disorders. In Tourette syndrome, for example, echolalia can occur as a vocal tic, involving the involuntary repetition of another person’s words. In some neurological conditions, repetition may emerge following changes in brain function. The reasons for echolalia vary, and its significance depends on the person and the context in which it's used.

When Repetition Brings Comfort

For some autistic people, echolalia serves a purpose beyond communication. Repeating familiar words or phrases can be a form of stimming, or self-soothing behavior, helping someone regulate emotions or cope with sensory overload (Camin et al., 2026). Repeating a familiar sequence of words can offer a sense of predictability and comfort when the world feels overwhelming.

Popular culture presents a memorable example in Rain Man. Dustin Hoffman’s character, Raymond Babbitt, frequently repeats familiar phrases, including “I’m an excellent driver,” and quotes lines from movies and television. When distressed, Raymond recites Abbott and Costello’s classic “Who’s on First?” routine. His reliance on familiar phrases and routines illustrates how repetition can offer comfort and predictability in overwhelming situations.

Echolalia also appears in historical accounts of Samuel Johnson, the 18th-century writer and lexicographer. Johnson displayed repetitive movements and unusual vocalizations, and some modern commentators have suggested that he may have had Tourette syndrome. He was also known to quote poetry and scripture and to talk to himself in elaborate monologues. One anecdote describes Johnson repeating a phrase spoken by his friend Hester Thrale. After he snapped at her, she responded affectionately, “Oh, dear good man!” (Roberts, 2016). Later, he was reportedly found whispering the words repeatedly to himself.

Albert Einstein has also been described as displaying echolalic speech patterns. Accounts of his childhood suggest that he sometimes repeated words and sentences quietly to himself before saying them aloud. As an adult, he reportedly repeated phrases he found amusing, sometimes saying them two or three times, particularly when excited (Andreasen, 2008).

These retrospective accounts are intriguing, but they predate modern diagnostic frameworks and cannot establish whether Johnson or Einstein actually experienced clinical echolalia.

Understanding Echolalia

Echolalia is common in early language development, but it can also persist into adulthood or occur as a feature of certain medical conditions. Understanding its significance means looking beyond the repeated words to consider the person, their circumstances, and what the repetition may be doing for them.

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