4 syllables: Bar, bi, tu, rates. Stress on Bar.
BAHR-bit-yoo-rayts
/ˈbɑɹbɪtjuːɹeɪts/
Barbiturates is pronounced BAHR-bit-yoo-rayts (/ˈbɑɹbɪtjuːɹeɪts/). It has four syllables (Bar-bi-tu-rates), with the stress on "Bar". Barbiturates are a class of long-acting sedative-hypnotic drugs derived from barbituric acid, historically used as sleep aids and anesthetics. They act on the central nervous system to depress activity, producing drowsiness, calm, or anesthesia. Due to safety concerns and dependence risk, many barbiturates have been replaced by newer sedatives. The term encompasses various compounds such as phenobarbital and pentobarbital.
nounBarbiturates are a class of long-acting sedative-hypnotic drugs derived from barbituric acid, historically used as sleep aids and anesthetics. They act on the central nervous system to depress activity, producing drowsiness, calm, or anesthesia. Due to safety concerns and dependence risk, many barbiturates have been replaced by newer sedatives. The term encompasses various compounds such as phenobarbital and pentobarbital.
- 4CB Common Mistakes: 1) Stress misplacement (bar-bi-TU-rates vs BAR-bi-zu) — fix by tapping the 3rd syllable loudly and holding it slightly longer. 2) Mispronouncing the /tj/ cluster as separate /t/ and /j/ without a glide — practice blending /tj/ as a single palatal, like 'tyoo'. 3) Final cluster /ts/ or /z/ confusion — ensure you clearly articulate /ts/ instead of a soft /s/; conclude with a crisp /ts/ release. 4) Vowel quality shifts in US vs UK vs AU — general adjustments are minor but keep US /ɑːr/ and UK /ɑː/; maintain /ɪ/ in the second syllable. Tips: slow down to articulate the /tj/ glide, use minimal pairs, and record to review.”,
"The patient was prescribed barbiturates to manage severe insomnia."
"Historical texts describe barbiturates as a common anesthetic in the first half of the 20th century."
"Clinicians have largely moved away from barbiturates in favor of safer alternatives."
Barbiturates is pronounced /ˌbɑːr.bɪˈtjuː.reɪts/ in US English, with primary stress on the third syllable: bar-bi-TU-rays. Break it into syllables: BAR-bih-tyoo-RATES. In UK English, you’ll hear /ˌbɑː.bɪˈtjʊː.reɪts/ with slightly shorter second syllable and strong final -eɪts. In Australian English, it’s /ˌbɑː.bɪˈtjʊˌreɪts/ with a similar rhythm to UK but subtle vowel shifts. For practice, emphasize the /ˈtjuː/ sequence and the final /-reɪts/.”,
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress, say bar-BIT-u-rates instead of bar-bi-TU-rates; 2) Flattening the /tj/ into a simple /t/ or /j/ without the correct palatal glide—pronounce /ˈtjuː/ as a blend; 3) Dropping the final /ts/ or mispronouncing it as /s/; keep /-reɪts/ with a clear /t/ then /s/. Correct by segmenting: BAR - bih - TYOO - rays, ensure the glide from /t/ to /j/ is present.”,
US: stress on the third syllable with /ˌbɑːr.bɪˈtjuː.reɪts/. UK: /ˌbɑː.bɪˈtjʊː.rəts/ with a tighter /tj/ cluster and less rhoticity in some regions. AU: /ˌbɑː.bɪˈtjʊˌreɪts/ featuring vowel qualities closer to British but often more non-rhotic exposure in casual speech. The key differences are rhoticity and vowel length; US tends to a stronger rhotic /r/, UK often non-rhotic in many accents, and AU sits between, with a pronounced /tj/ after /bɪ/.”,
This word combines a rare /bɪt/ sequence with a dental-alveolar /tj/ junction that (a) requires a precise palatal glide /tj/ after /t/; (b) a multi-syllabic, stressed third syllable creating a longer vowel journey; (c) final /reɪts/ cluster where /t/ and /s/ need to blend cleanly. Linguistically, the tricky transition from a crisp /t/ to /j/ and then a diphthong in /reɪts/ raises articulatory demands, especially for non-native speakers. Use slow practice on the /tj/ blend and finalize with a clear /ts/ release.”,
A useful nuance: in careful, clinical reading, you’ll often hear a slightly reduced first syllable /ˈbɑːr.bɪ/, with full attention on the /tjʊː/ or /tjʊˌreɪts/ segment. Some speakers insert a subtle linking /j/ between /bɪ/ and /tjʊ/ resulting in /-bɪt.juː-/; recognizing this helps in rapid assimilation and comprehension. Practicing with a native speaker or audio reference will reveal this micro-variation.”,
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US: rhotic, more lip rounding in /ɑːr/ and a clearer /r/; vowel length of /ɑː/ similar to 'bar' but longer. UK: non-rhotic for many speakers; /r/ not pronounced unless followed by vowel; final /ts/ crisp; AU: often non-rhotic; vowel shifts may yield slightly more centralized /ɪ/ in /bɪ/; focus on /tj/ glide. IPA cues: US /ˌbɑːr.bɪˈtjuː.reɪts/, UK /ˌbɑː.bɪˈtjʊː.reɪts/, AU /ˌbɑː.bɪˈtjʊˌreɪts/. Practice: exaggerate the /tj/ to internalize the glide, then relax.”,
Barbiturates derive from barbituric acid, discovered in the 19th century. The chemical class was developed by Adolf von Baeyer and Emil Fischer, who synthesized barbituric acid in 1864. By the early 1900s, synthetic derivatives with sedative properties were created, earning rapid medical adoption for anesthesia and sleep disorders. The term barbiturate grew from the acid’s name and the nitric, carbamate, and ureide-like functional groups common in substitutions. First used in pharmacological literature in the 1900s, these compounds were celebrated for powerful central nervous system depression but later scrutinized for safety, leading to tighter controls and replacement with benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine sleep aids. The pronunciation and spelling have remained stable in English, with pluralized form barbiturates indicating multiple derivatives within the class.
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