6 syllables: Bi, ca, lu, ta, mi, de. Stress on lu.
beye-kuh-LOO-tuh-meyed
/baɪ kə ˈluː tə maɪd/
Bicalutamide is pronounced beye-kuh-LOO-tuh-meyed (/baɪ kə ˈluː tə maɪd/). It has six syllables (Bi-ca-lu-ta-mi-de), with the stress on "lu". Bicalutamide is a non-steroidal antiandrogen used in the treatment of prostate cancer. It functions by blocking androgen receptors, reducing testosterone-driven tumor growth. The term refers to a specific pharmaceutical compound and is typically encountered in medical contexts and pharmacology literature.
nounBicalutamide is a non-steroidal antiandrogen used in the treatment of prostate cancer. It functions by blocking androgen receptors, reducing testosterone-driven tumor growth. The term refers to a specific pharmaceutical compound and is typically encountered in medical contexts and pharmacology literature.
"The clinician prescribed bicalutamide alongside other therapies for advanced prostate cancer."
"During the lecture, the instructor highlighted bicalutamide’s mechanism as an AR antagonist."
"Patients tolerated bicalutamide well, with monitoring for liver function."
Pronunciation: /ˌbaɪ.kəˈluː.təˌmaɪd/. Break it as by-ca- Lu-te-mide, with primary stress on the 'lu' syllable and a secondary stress on 'ma' in some pronunciations. The 'bi' sounds like 'bye,' 'ca' like 'kah,' 'lu' as 'loo,' and 'ta' as 'tə' in many British and American variants, ending with 'mide' sounding like 'myde' or 'mide' depending on the speaker. Exaggerating the 'lu' vowel helps clarity in medical contexts.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress, saying 'bih-KAL-yoo-tah-mide' instead of stressing the 'lu' syllable, and mispronouncing the final 'mide' as 'mide' with a muted 'e' or as 'mid' without the long 'i' sound. Correct by holding the 'loo' in the third syllable and ending with a clear 'myd' or 'mahid' depending on accent. Emphasize the 'lu' in 'lu' as the primary stress. Use slow, deliberate pronunciation first, then speed up gradually.
In US and UK, the middle vowels tend to be clear: /ˌbaɪ.kəˈluː.təˌmaɪd/. Australian English closely mirrors this but can show slightly more pronounced schwa in unstressed positions and a marginally broader vowel in 'loo' (/ˈluː/). Rhoticity is less influential here since the word doesn’t end with rhotic 'r' sounds. Overall, the major differences are subtle vowel length and intonation patterns rather than phoneme changes.
It presents a cluster of features that challenge non-native speakers: a three-consonant onset 'bi' is easy, but the 'ca' and 'lu' combine with a long 'oo' in 'lu' and a final 'mide' that ends with a voiced 'd' sound can be tricky in rapid speech. The sequence /ˌbaɪ.kəˈluː.təˌmaɪd/ includes a multisyllabic rhythm with a stressed mid syllable and a final '-mide' that resembles 'myed.' Practicing syllable-timed speech and saying it slowly helps anchor correct phonemes.
A unique aspect is the strong central vowel quality in the third syllable 'lu' where the long 'u' sound /uː/ must be kept steady, not shortened in rapid speech. The combination ‘-lutamide’ requires crisp enunciation of the 't' before the silent-ish 'a' and the final 'de' producing a clear 'd' rather than a soft 't' in some dialects. IPA cues: /ˌbaɪ.kəˈluːˌtəˌmaɪd/ with emphasis on the third syllable.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Bicalutamide"!
Bicalutamide derives from chemical nomenclature typical of pharmaceutical compounds. The root is built from its molecular components: the “bi-” prefix indicating two similar units present in the molecule, “calu” and “tamide” hinting at a amide functional group and a derivative of benzenoid structures. It belongs to a class of non-steroidal antiandrogens developed in the late 20th century as targeted cancer therapies, designed to inhibit androgen receptor signaling rather than to mimic or replace testosterone. The first uses appeared in medical literature in the 1990s, with subsequent clinical trials establishing its role in treating metastatic prostate cancer. The name itself does not reflect a common linguistic root in everyday language; it’s a coined compound name used globally in pharmacology, with pronunciation stable across major languages. First known use in English pharmacology sources appears around the late 1990s to early 2000s as part of drug labeling and clinical trial reports. Over time, “bicalutamide” became associated with a class of non-steroidal AR antagonists, with brand names and generic forms widely used in medical contexts. In practical terms, it is treated as a proper noun in clinical documentation, with standardized pronunciation independent of regional accents.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Bicalutamide" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Bicalutamide" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Bicalutamide" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Bicalutamide"
-rid sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
