4 syllables: Chlor, hex, i, dine. Stress on hex.
klawr-HEK-sid-een
/klɔɹˈhɛksɪdiːn/
Chlorhexidine is pronounced klawr-HEK-sid-een (/klɔɹˈhɛksɪdiːn/). It has four syllables (Chlor-hex-i-dine), with the stress on "hex". Chlorhexidine is a broad-spectrum antiseptic used in medical and dental settings to reduce bacteria on skin and mucous membranes. It’s a compound of chlorinated phenol linked to biguanide groups, and is available in solutions, gels, and rinses. The term denotes both the chemical class and its marketed formulations, commonly encountered in clinical protocols and infection-control guidelines.
nounChlorhexidine is a broad-spectrum antiseptic used in medical and dental settings to reduce bacteria on skin and mucous membranes. It’s a compound of chlorinated phenol linked to biguanide groups, and is available in solutions, gels, and rinses. The term denotes both the chemical class and its marketed formulations, commonly encountered in clinical protocols and infection-control guidelines.
How to Pronounce Chlorhexidine
"The nurse applied chlorhexidine wash before the surgical incision."
"Doctors recommended chlorhexidine gluconate as part of the preoperative skin prep."
"We used chlorhexidine wipes to sanitize the patient’s bedside surfaces."
You say /ˌklɔːˈhɛk.sɪˌdiːn/ in US and UK styles; stress is on the third syllable -hex-; it’s chlo- as in chlorine, -rhe- with an R-like vowel, and -xidine ending sounding like -ksi-deen. Start with a crisp /kl/ then a light /ɔː/ followed by /ˈhɛk/ and finish with /sɪˌdiːn/. In audience terms, keep the r-color soft and ensure the final /diːn/ is clear rather than reduced. Practice with a slow, exaggerated enunciation before normal speed to lock the rhythm.
Two to three frequent errors are: 1) misplacing stress on the second syllable (chlor-HEX-i-dine is common; stress on hex-), 2) slurring /x/ into /k/ or producing a weak /h/ sound, and 3) mispronouncing the final -dine as /dɪn/ instead of /diːn/. Correct by practicing the three-part sequence: /ˌklɔː/ + /ˈhɛk/ + /ˌsɪˈdiːn/. Emphasize the crisp /h/ after the /k/ and the long /iː/ in -dine.
In US English, stress typically falls on the /ˈhɛk/ cluster; rhotic accents keep the /r/ lightly colored. UK pronunciation emphasizes the same triad but with slightly more rounded vowels and a non-rhotic tendency in some dialects, making the /r/ less pronounced. Australian English tends to be more clipped with a longer /iːn/ at the end and similar stress placement, but may show subtle vowel quality shifts: /ɔː/ for the first vowel and /ɛ/ for the second. All varieties keep the -xidine ending close to /ˌdɪˈiːn/.
The difficulty lies in the cluster /klɔːr/ followed by the unfamiliar /tʃ/ sound in the sequence chlor-, and the -xidine ending with a long final vowel /iːn/. Also, the mid syllable /hɛk/ is a distinct phoneme boundary that can be swallowed in fast speech. To master, isolate the sequences: /klɔːr/ + /ˈhɛk/ + /sɪˌdiːn/, place the stress early, and practice with slow repeats, ensuring the /ʃ/ or /tʃ/ blend is precise before moving to fluency.
Chlorhexidine has no silent letters; its difficulty comes from the multi-syllabic rhythm and a three-consonant cluster early in the word. The primary stress sits on the /ˈhɛk/ syllable, with secondary stress implied on the preceding /ˌklɔː/. The mouth position requires a precise sequence: lip rounding for /ɔː/, a voiceless /k/ followed by /l/ and a breathy /h/ before the hard /ɛ/ and /s/ transition. Maintain clear articulation of the /d/ and the final /iːn/ to avoid shortening.
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US: rhotic, more pronounced /ɹ/; vowel quality slightly more open; stress pattern stable on /ˈhɛk/. UK: non-rhotic tendency; /ɹ/ less audible; vowels often tighter and less rounding; AU: similar to UK but with slightly flatter vowels and shorter vowel duration in fast speech. IPA references anchor: US /ˌklɔːˈhɛk.sɪˌdiːn/; UK /ˌklɔːˈhɛk.sɪˌdiːn/; AU /ˌklɔːˈhɛk.sɪˌdiːn/. Vowel shifts: US /ɔː/ and /ɛ/ are robust; UK /ɔː/ often more centralized; AU may show broader /ɔː/ quality. Consonants: /kl/ onset is robust; /x/ is a velar fricative, not a /k/; ensure /h/ after the /k/ is audible in all accents.
Chlorhexidine originates from the word parts chlor- (chlorine) and hexidine (related to hexidine, a historical antiseptic brand name component). The root chlor- comes from Latin chlo-rum referring to chlorine, its characteristic antiseptic properties, and its ability to oxidize organic material. Hexidine, used in the late 19th and 20th centuries as a brand-mark element in antiseptic compounds, contributed to the modern compound name chlorhexidine (chlor- + hex- + idine). The first formal chemical description of chlorhexidine appeared in the mid-20th century as researchers developed polybiguanide antiseptics with broad-spectrum activity. The term gained prominence with medical formulations starting in the 1950s and 60s as surgical prep and wound care protocols incorporated chlorhexidine gluconate and chlorhexidine digluconate. It has since become a standard term in pharmacology, dentistry, and infection-control literature, with numerous brand variants and formulations developed for skin, mucous membranes, and medical devices.
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Words that rhyme with "Chlorhexidine"
-ine sounds
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