4 syllables: a, mi, ka, cin. Stress on ka.
am-ik-AY-sin
/æmɪˈkeɪsɪn/
amikacin is pronounced am-ik-AY-sin (/æmɪˈkeɪsɪn/). It has four syllables (a-mi-ka-cin), with the stress on "ka". Amikacin is a broad-spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic used to treat serious Gram-negative infections and certain Gram-positive infections in combination with other agents. It functions by binding to bacterial ribosomal RNA, inhibiting protein synthesis and leading to bacterial death. It is typically administered parenterally and monitored closely due to potential toxicity and dosing complexity.
Amikacin is a broad-spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic used to treat serious Gram-negative infections and certain Gram-positive infections in combination with other agents. It functions by binding to bacterial ribosomal RNA, inhibiting protein synthesis and leading to bacterial death. It is typically administered parenterally and monitored closely due to potential toxicity and dosing complexity.
- Common phonetic challenges: 1) Stress pattern: people mistakenly stress the first syllable (a-MI-ka-sin vs. a-mi-KA-sin). Solution: feel the beat on /ˈkæ/. Practice by tapping: da-da-DA-da. 2) Vowel accuracy: the /æ/ in both the first and third syllables tends to shift toward /ə/ in fast speech. Practice with slow enunciation and then normalize tempo. 3) Consonant clarity: /k/ and /s/ can blur into /ks/; enunciate /k/ with a brief stop and follow with a crisp /s/.
"The patient received amikacin as part of a multi-drug regimen for septicemia."
"Amikacin was chosen for its activity against resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa."
"Renal function was monitored meticulously during amikacin therapy."
Amikacin is pronounced a-MI-ka-sin with stress on the second syllable. IPA: US ˌæ.miˈkæ.sɪn; UK ˌæ.miˈkæ.sɪn; AU ˌæ.miˈkæ.sɪn. Begin with the open front unrounded /æ/ of 'a', then the /mi/ sequence, stress lands on /ˈkæ/ as in ‘cat,’ and ends with /sɪn/. The first syllable is lighter, the strength comes on the 'ka' block. Visualize: a-MI-ka-sin.
Common errors: (1) Stress misplacement, saying a-MI-ka-sin with stress on the first syllable. Fix: mark the second syllable as the main beat: a-mi-KA-sin. (2) Slurring /kæs/ into /kæ.sɪn/ or mispronouncing the -cin as /sɪn/ vs /kɪn/; use /ˈkæ.sɪn/ with a crisp /s/. (3) Vowel laxity: pronounce /æ/ rather than a more neutral /ə/ in the first syllable; keep /æ/ in both initial vowels. Practice by saying the word in slow, deliberate progression: a-mi-ka-sin, then speed.
US and UK both favor a-MI-ka-sin with secondary stress on the second syllable and a clear /æ/ in the first vowel; US often shows rhoticity in connected speech, but the word itself is not rhotic beyond general pronunciation. Australian English tends to be similar but may feature a slightly more centralized /æ/ and faster overall tempo. The /k/ and /s/ are crisp in all variants; ensure the /ˈæ/ remains steady and the /sɪn/ end is not reduced. IPA references: US ˌæ.miˈkæ.sɪn, UK ˌæ.miˈkæ.sɪn, AU ˌæ.miˈkæ.sɪn.
The difficulty comes from the multi-syllabic, non-native compound structure and the specific /æ/ vowel shifts. The challenge is achieving the correct syllable-timed rhythm and avoiding common slips like misplacing stress on the first syllable or diluting the /kæ/ cluster. Focus on the central /æ/ vowel, maintain crisp /k/ and /s/ consonants, and keep a steady tempo so the second syllable carries the main stress. IPA guidance provides a concrete anchor: ˌæ.miˈkæ.sɪn.
There are no silent letters in amikacin. Each syllable carries phonetic weight: /æ/ in the first, /mi/ second, /ˈkæ/ third, and /sɪn/ final. The key is making the /k/ and /s/ sounds distinct and avoiding vowel reduction in the middle syllable. Pay attention to the /æ/ in both the first and third syllables to preserve the word’s rhythm.
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- US: maintain rhoticity and clear /æ/ vowels; stress the second syllable. - UK: similar but with possibly less rhotic influence; keep /æ/ stable and avoid vowel shortening. - AU: slight vowel retraction; keep /æ/ open and ensure non-rhotic tendencies don’t alter the final /n/; maintain crisp /s/ and /k/ segments. IPA references: US ˌæ.miˈkæ.sɪn, UK ˌæ.miˈkæ.sɪn, AU ˌæ.miˈkæ.sɪn.
Amikacin’s name derives from ‘ami-’ suggesting affinity and ‘mycin,’ a suffix used for many antibiotic agents, particularly aminoglycosides. The root is built from a synthetic modification of kanamycin-type compounds, designed to broaden activity. First developed and approved in the 1970s, amikacin was engineered to overcome certain bacterial resistance mechanisms that limited kanamycin’s efficacy. It belongs to the aminoglycoside class, which target bacterial ribosomes. The term ‘amikacin’ is a brand/trial-name-fashioned lexical construction that crystallizes the molecule’s intended use (antibiotic) and its chemical lineage from related aminoglycosides. Historically, the discovery of aminoglycosides began with ribosomal-targeting antibiotics in the 1940s-1950s, culminating in more refined derivatives like amikacin that offered improved stability, spectrum, and dosing profiles. The first known clinical uses emerged in the late 1970s to early 1980s, with ongoing pharmacovigilance shaping safe administration in modern practice.
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Words that rhyme with "amikacin"
-kin sounds
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