4 syllables: Cef, ta, zi, dime. Stress on ta.
sef-TAZ-id-eyem
/sɛfˈtæzɪdaɪm/
Ceftazidime is pronounced sef-TAZ-id-eyem (/sɛfˈtæzɪdaɪm/). It has four syllables (Cef-ta-zi-dime), with the stress on "ta". Ceftazidime is a broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. It is administered parenterally (often intravenously) and acts by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis. The term denotes the drug class and specific compound, commonly encountered in clinical and pharmaceutical contexts.
nounCeftazidime is a broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. It is administered parenterally (often intravenously) and acts by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis. The term denotes the drug class and specific compound, commonly encountered in clinical and pharmaceutical contexts.
- You may misplace stress or compress syllables, saying ceft-az-i-dime instead of cef-taz-i-dime. To correct: practice the natural three-beat rhythm, stressing the 'ta' syllable and pronouncing each syllable clearly. - The 'taz' cluster can bleed into a quick 'tazi' if you don’t separate the stop and the following alveolar sound; fix by holding the /t/ briefly before the /æz/. - The final 'dime' can become 'dim' or 'deem'; ensure you articulate /diːm/ with the long /iː/ and /m/ at the end. Practice with a slow to fast tempo to build accuracy.
"The patient was started on ceftazidime after cultures showed Gram-negative bacteria."
"Pharmacists must verify the dosage of ceftazidime before administration."
"Ceftazidime is active against many Pseudomonas infections, depending on susceptibility."
Pronounce it as CEF-taz-i-dime with primary stress on the second-to-last syllable in most variants: /ˌsɛfˈtæzɪˌdiːm/ (US). Break it into three clear parts: 'ceft' (like 'left' with s-e-f-t), 'a' as a quick 'a' in 'cat', 'zidime' sounding 'zih-dime'. The 'ta' is emphasized, and the final 'dime' rhymes with 'time'. Mouth: start with a light /s/ or /s/ before /ɛ/ in 'ceft', then a strong /tæz/ sequence, finish with /ɪˌdiːm/. For audio reference, compare to standard medical pronunciation resources and YouGlish for real-world usage.
Common mistakes: 1) Stress misplacement, saying 'ceftaz-i-dime' with primary stress on the first syllable; fix by stressing the 'ta-' syllable: /ˌsɛfˈtæzɪˌdiːm/. 2) Slurring 'taz' and 'i', producing 'tazi-dime' or 'taz-ih-dime'—keep the 'z' clearly, and pronounce the 'ti' as /ɪ/ rather than a long /i:/. 3) Misreading 'dime' as 'dim' or 'dee-mee'— retain /diːm/. Practice pauses between syllables to preserve rhythm.
In US speech, expect /ˌsɛfˈtæzɪˌdiːm/ with strong /æ/ in 'ta' and a clear /d/. UK tends to maintain non-rhoticity on similar medical terms but keeps stress pattern similar; vowel qualities may be slightly more clipped, and /ˌsɛfˈtazɪˌdiːm/ can occur. Australian tends to vowel-tightly enunciate with a clear /iː/ in the final syllable and less vowel reduction, giving /ˌsɛfˈtæzɪˌdiːm/ or /ˌsɛfˈtæzɪˌdiːm/ with a slightly elongated final /iːm/. The key differences are in vowel quality and where the speaker places slight emphasis in connected speech.
Difficulties come from the three joined syllables with a 'tz' cluster and the 'ti' in the middle, plus the final 'dime' which may be mistaken for 'dim' or 'deem'. The sequence /tæzɪ/ can sound like /tæzi/ if the tongue doesn’t lift for the /z/ followed by /ɪ/. The stress pattern (secondary vs primary) is subtle in casual speech. Visualise the word as three distinct parts: cef-taz-i-dime, and practice the transitions between alveolar stop /t/ and sibilants /z/.
Ceftazidime challenges include ensuring the /tæz/ sequence doesn’t morph into /tazɪ/ and keeping the final /diːm/ distinct from /dim/ in fast speech. A useful cue is to pause slightly after the 'taz' syllable to deliver a crisp /ɪ/ and then an audible /diːm/. In practice, you’ll hear hospital staff enunciate it clearly: cef-taz-i-dime, with the middle 'ti' guiding the tongue to set up the final 'dime'.
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- US: /ˌsɛfˈtæzɪˌdiːm/ with a clear /æ/ in 'ta' and a long /iː/ in 'dime'. - UK: /ˌsefˈtæzɪˌdiːm/ can show slightly clipped vowels; maintain the same rhythm and the /t/ release before /æ/. - AU: /ˌsɛfˈtæzɪˌdiːm/ with crisp consonants and slightly less vowel reduction; keep final /iːm/ steady. In all accents, emphasize consonant clarity around /t/ and /z/ to prevent muddling with /d/ or /s/.
Ceftazidime derives from the chemical and pharmacological naming conventions for cephalosporin antibiotics. The prefix ceft- stems from the cephalosporin family, with the -azid- infix indicating a nitrogen-containing ring variation, and -idime ending aligning with terpenoid-ish drug naming conventions common in synthetic beta-lactam antibiotics. The term enters English medical usage in the late 1980s as new-generation cephalosporins were developed to broaden Gram-negative coverage. Its first known printed use aligns with pharmaceutical literature and labeling references from the mid-to-late 1980s as researchers documented its spectrum, mechanism, and clinical trial results. The name mirrors the systematic approach to classifying beta-lactam antibiotics by core ring structure, side chains, and functional groups that influence activity and resistance profiles. Over time, ceftazidime became a staple in hospital formularies, particularly for suspected Pseudomonas infections, and the spelling and pronunciation have become standardized in medical practice through textbooks and online resources.
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