4 syllables: Cape, ci, ta, bine. Stress on ci.
kayp-SIT-uh-beyen
/keɪpˈsɪtəbaɪn/
Capecitabine is pronounced kayp-SIT-uh-beyen (/keɪpˈsɪtəbaɪn/). It has four syllables (Cape-ci-ta-bine), with the stress on "ci". Capecitabine is a chemotherapy agent used to treat certain cancers. It is a prodrug that metabolizes into 5-fluorouracil in the body, interfering with DNA synthesis in rapidly dividing cells. The term itself denotes the chemical compound and is used primarily in medical contexts and pharmacology literature.
nounCapecitabine is a chemotherapy agent used to treat certain cancers. It is a prodrug that metabolizes into 5-fluorouracil in the body, interfering with DNA synthesis in rapidly dividing cells. The term itself denotes the chemical compound and is used primarily in medical contexts and pharmacology literature.
How to Pronounce Capecitabine
"The oncologist prescribed Capecitabine as part of the adjuvant therapy plan."
"Researchers tested Capecitabine's efficacy in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents."
"Patients taking Capecitabine should monitor for hand-foot syndrome and fatigue."
Say it as /ˌkeɪ.pes·ɪˈteɪ.biːn/ (US) or /ˌkeɪ.pəˈsiːˌteɪ.biːn/ (UK). Stress falls on the third syllable: cape-CI-ta-bine. Start with ‘kay-PES’ or ‘kay-puh-SEE-’ depending on dialect, then ‘teɪ-been.’ Mouth positions: lips neutral to rounded for /eɪ/, tongue high for /iː/ in the final syllable. For an audio reference, listen to medical pronunciation guides or university pharmacology pronunciation playlists.
Common errors: misplacing the stress on the first or second syllable, mispronouncing the /si/ as /siː/ instead of a lighter /si-/. Also, slurring the middle /teɪ/ into a quick /te/ or confusing the final /bin/ with /biːn/. Correction tips: practice the three-beat rhythm CAP-e-si-TA-bin-e; emphasize the third syllable with a clear /teɪ/; finish with a crisp /biːn/ and keep lips rounded for /eɪ/ in the final vowel.
In US English, you typically hear /ˌkeɪ.pesɪˈteɪ.biːn/ with a strong middle /ˈteɪ/ and final /biːn/. UK English often reduces the middle vowel slightly and may place marginal emphasis on /teɪ/ as /təˈteɪ/; AU tends toward a flatter intonation and a more rounded /eɪ/ in /keɪ-/. IPA notes: US /ˌkeɪˌpesɪˈteɪbiːn/; UK /ˌkeɪ.pəˈsiːˌteɪ.biːn/; AU /ˌkeɪ.pɛsˈɪˌteɪ.baɪn/. Subtle rhoticity and vowel quality shifts influence the middle syllable.
It combines multiple syllables with a longer stressed center, a cluster in the middle (cap- e- ci- ta- bi- ne), and the /si/ sequence that can be misheard as /siː/ or /ɪ/ depending on speaker. The proximity of /teɪ/ and /biːn/ creates a diphthong chain that can blur into a single syllable without deliberate articulation. Focus on the three clear beats and a crisp final /biːn/ to maintain accuracy.
Unique aspect: the middle syllable sequence ci-ta-bi resembles a string of consonant clusters that can trip listeners; keep each syllable distinct: ca-pe-ci-ta-bine, with a mid-syllable /si/ not swallowed. The end sounds require a clean /biːn/. Subtle US/UK/AU differences exist but the essential rhythm remains CAP-e-si-TA-bin-e, with the primary stress near the /teɪ/ before the final -bin-e.
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Capecitabine derives from the chemical name describing its composition as a prodrug designed to convert into 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in vivo. The prefix ‘cape-’ here is not a standalone root with a semantic meaning; it arises from the shorthand naming of the compound’s molecular structure and medicinal chemistry conventions. The suffix ‘-tabine’ echoes other nucleoside-like agents in the family of antineoplastic drugs, where ‘b’ often links to the azacyclic and pyrimidine-related moieties. The term entered medical lexicon as the drug was developed and approved in the early 2000s, with early literature focusing on pharmacokinetics and prodrug activation. Over time, Capecitabine gained prominence as a branded generic and is now widely cited in oncology guidelines, pharmacology texts, and clinical trial reports. The pronunciation stabilized with common English usage in medicine, but non-English-speaking clinicians may adapt the syllable structure to fit local phonology. The word’s complexity—three syllables before the final ‘-bine’ and the sequence cap-e-si-ta-bin-e—reflects its synthetic origin and the convention of naming chemotherapeutic prodrugs after their active metabolites. First known use in published medical literature appears in the late 1990s to early 2000s as capecitabine underwent clinical trials and regulatory review.
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Words that rhyme with "Capecitabine"
-ape sounds
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