5 syllables: An, ti, his, ta, mine. Stress on his.
an-tee-HIS-tuh-muhn
/ˌæntiˈhɪstəmən/
Antihistamine is pronounced an-tee-HIS-tuh-muhn (/ˌæntiˈhɪstəmən/). It has five syllables (An-ti-his-ta-mine), with the stress on "his". Antihistamine is a type of medication used to relieve allergic symptoms by blocking histamine receptors. It is commonly taken to treat hay fever, hives, and other allergic reactions. The term combines the prefix anti- with histamine and the suffix -amine, indicating a compound that counters histamine's effects.
nounAntihistamine is a type of medication used to relieve allergic symptoms by blocking histamine receptors. It is commonly taken to treat hay fever, hives, and other allergic reactions. The term combines the prefix anti- with histamine and the suffix -amine, indicating a compound that counters histamine's effects.
"I took an antihistine? wait—no, antihistamine before going outdoors to curb sneezing."
"The doctor recommended a second-generation antihistamine to reduce drowsiness."
"Antihistamines can be found in both prescription and over-the-counter forms."
Pronounce as ænˈtɪ.hɪˌsteɪ.mɪn (US) or ˌæn.taɪˈhɪ.stə.miːn (UK). The primary stress lands on the second syllable, with a secondary rhythmed grouping after the diphthong in -stamine. Start with a short “a” as in cat, then a stressed “tih” syllable, then “his” as in hiss, followed by “ta” or “tə” and finish with “min” or “meen” depending on dialect. Keep the final -mine tight and clear. Audio reference: you’ll hear native speakers on Pronounce or Forvo.
Common errors: misplacing stress, saying ‘antihist-uh-meen’ or flattening the stress across syllables. Another pitfall is pronouncing the middle -hist- as a long ‘hiss-tee’ rather than the concise ‘hih-sta-’ sequence. Correction: emphasize the second syllable with a crisp /ˈtɪ/ and keep the -st- cluster tight: ænˈtɪ.hɪˌsteɪ.mɪn. Use slow practice, then blend for natural rhythm.
US tends to preserve /æ/ in the first syllable and a stronger final /mɪn/ or /mən/ depending on tempo. UK often moves stress to the third syllable slightly and may reduce vowels in the middle to /stə/; AU follows US-like patterns but with a more clipped final /mɪn/ and less rounding on vowels. Overall, US: ænˈtɪ.hɪˌsteɪ.mɪn, UK: ˌæn.taɪˈhɪ.stə.miːn, AU: ænˈtɪ.hɪˌsteɪ.mɪn with small vowel shifts.
It combines multiple syllables with a tricky consonant cluster: the sequence -hist- and the final -amine can be mispronounced as -hiss-tamine or -hist-uh-meen. The alternation between unstressed and stressed syllables, plus the diphthong in -stamine, requires careful segmentation. Focus on core segments: an- / æn-; -ti- / ˈtɪ/; -his- /hɪ/; -ta- /steɪ/; -mine /mɪn/. Properly mapping these helps reduce slippage and keeps rhythm natural.
One notable feature is the tense-lax difference in the first unstressed syllable; in careful speech, you may hear a subtle /æ/ vs /ə/ depending on speaker, and the 'ta' syllable often carries a light secondary stress in rapid speech. Recognize the core units: /æ nˈtɪ hɪ ˈsteɪ mɪn/ with precise mouth openings and a crisp /t/ stop before the strong /ɪ/.
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Antihistamine derives from anti- (against) + histamine (a biogenic amine involved in immune responses) + -amine (a chemical suffix for amines). Histamine itself comes from the Greek histos (tissue) and amine, and historically the concept of antagonizing histamine arose with the discovery that certain compounds could mitigate allergic symptoms. The first antihistamines emerged in the 1940s, with diphenhydramine among the earliest examples. The term evolved in pharmacology to denote a class of drugs that block histamine receptors, particularly H1 receptors, to prevent or reduce symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and hives. Over time, newer antihistamines emphasized reduced sedation and longer-lasting action, but the core meaning—agents counteracting histamine—remains intact. The word appears in medical literature and consumer drug labeling across English-speaking countries, with pronunciations typically aligning to standard English varieties. First known uses in pharmacological texts date to mid-20th century, corresponding to the modernization of allergy therapies. As with many compound terms in pharmacology, the growth of the class paralleled advances in receptor pharmacology and medicinal chemistry.
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Words that rhyme with "Antihistamine"
-ine sounds
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