3 syllables: An, ta, cids. Stress on ta.
an-TAS-uhdz
/æˈntæsədz/
Antacids is pronounced an-TAS-uhdz (/æˈntæsədz/). It has three syllables (An-ta-cids), with the stress on "ta". Antacids are over-the-counter medicines that neutralize stomach acid, providing quick relief from heartburn and indigestion. They typically contain minerals like aluminum, magnesium, or calcium compounds. Used short-term, they work by increasing gastric pH to reduce irritation of the esophagus and stomach lining.
nounAntacids are over-the-counter medicines that neutralize stomach acid, providing quick relief from heartburn and indigestion. They typically contain minerals like aluminum, magnesium, or calcium compounds. Used short-term, they work by increasing gastric pH to reduce irritation of the esophagus and stomach lining.
- You may skip the unstressed middle syllable, producing a two-syllable version like /ˈæn.təz/ or /ˈæntæks/. Aim to keep the /ə/ in the second syllable to preserve three-syllable rhythm. - Another error is pronouncing 'antacids' with a light /t/ release or with a nasalized vowel in the second syllable; keep it crisp but short: /ˈæn.tə.ˌsɪdz/. - Finally, the final /sɪdz/ can become /zɪz/ or /sɪd/; keep the final voiced alveolar fricative cluster: /-sɪdz/.
"I grabbed some antacids after dinner when I felt that familiar burning in my chest."
"The pharmacist recommended antacids to calm her upset stomach before the exam."
"Antacids can interact with certain prescriptions, so take them an hour apart from other meds."
Pronounce it as /ˈæn.təˌsɪdz/. The primary stress is on the first syllable: AN-tuh-sids. The middle syllable is a schwa: /ə/, and the final sound is /z/ + /d/? Wait: actually final is /z/ as in 'ids' with a voiced alveolar sibilant followed by a voiced alveolar stop? The ending is /-sɪdz/ sounding like 'sids' with a voiced /d/? Real pronunciation is /ˈæn.təˌsɪdz/ where the ending is /sɪdz/ (sihdz). Use a light /t/ release between 'an' and 'ta'. In IPA: ˈæn.təˌsɪdz. If you’re listening, try a quick audio reference, and practice linking the syllables smoothly.
Common errors include dropping the middle schwa, saying /ˈæn.tæ.kɪdz/ with a flat 'a' in the second syllable, or turning 'ac' into /æ/ as in 'cat'. Another frequent slip is misplacing stress, saying AN-tuh-sy-dz or stressing the last syllable instead of the first. To correct: keep the middle as a neutral /ə/ (unstressed), keep /æ/ in the first syllable, and render the final as /ɪdz/ rather than /ɪdz/? Actually /sɪdz/; ensure the final is voiced, with a light /d/ before z.
In US/UK/AU, the core is /ˈæn.təˌsɪdz/. US tends to a slightly reduced second vowel? The US often has a darker /æ/ in the first syllable; UK might preserve a crisper /ə/ in the second syllable and a slightly clearer /d/ before z. Australian tends to a more open front vowel in /æ/ and a light rhotic? Australian is non-rhotic similar to UK in most varieties, so the final /dz/ remains. In all, the stress pattern remains the same, but vowel quality and rhythm vary subtly: US more rhotic-ish in connected speech, UK more clipped, AU more elongated vowels.
The challenge lies in the multi-syllabic structure with a mid-word schwa and a final cluster /sɪdz/. The second syllable is unstressed and reduces to /ə/, which can be easy to skip, making it sound like /ˈæntæs/ with a heavy first syllable. The final cluster /-sɪdz/ requires voicing and a smooth /z/ after /d/. Some speakers also mispronounce the 't' as a hard /t/ rather than a soft dental release. Focus on keeping a light tongue for /t/ and a gentle bridge to /sɪdz/.
Is the 't' in antacids pronounced as a clear /t/ or a flap? It’s a clear /t/ in careful speech, but in rapid, casual speech you may hear a subtle glottal or dental light release. The primary cue is the /t/ with a brief hold before the schwa: /æ n t ə/. Visualize the mouth: lips relaxed, tongue tip touching alveolar ridge for /t/, then relax into /ə/ before the /sɪdz/ cluster.
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- US: Slightly rhotic linking and a clear /æ/ in first vowel; keep a strong /æ/ and crisp /t/ and /sɪdz/; IPA: /ˈæn.təˌsɪdz/. - UK: More clipped, less vowel reduction in the middle, but still /ə/; stress remains on the first syllable; final /dz/ is a voiced alveolar affricate; IPA: /ˈæn.təˌsɪdz/. - AU: Often broader vowels; /æ/ in first syllable is open, second vowel remains /ə/; final cluster similar; non-rhotic tendencies for some speakers; IPA: /ˈæn.təˌsɪdz/. - Practice with minimal pairs to feel the middle vowel difference: ant-uh-sids vs ant-aw-sids? The key is /ə/ vs /æ/ in the middle is tiny but audible.
Antacids entered English in the mid-20th century, formed from the prefix anti- meaning against, and acidus, from Latin meaning sour or acid. The term was coined to describe substances that counteract or neutralize gastric acid. Early antacids included baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) used in medicinal contexts, evolving into more targeted mineral salts like aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, calcium carbonate, and combinations thereof. The modern term reflects a class of medications designed to oppose acidity in the stomach, with first widespread medical use in the 1950s as pH-modifying agents became common in over-the-counter formats. The word’s usage rose with the growth of self-care and heartburn awareness in urban societies, and today it is a standard term in pharmacology, consumer health, and everyday speech. The root anti- conveys opposition, acids refer to the gastric acid, and the suffix -id suggests a derivative or agent. The historical shift from general remedies to specific, targeted formulations marks the evolution of antacids in both clinical and consumer contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "Antacids"
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