Echinital is spelled as [ɪˈkɪnɪtəl], with the stress on the second syllable. The word is derived from "echinate," meaning to have spines, prickles, or thorns, and "ite," which is a suffix indicating a mineral or rock. Therefore, echinital describes a rock or mineral that is covered in spines or prickles. The pronunciation of this word makes use of the short "i" sound, indicated by the [ɪ] symbol, and the unstressed syllable is pronounced as "nuh" rather than "tal."