4 syllables: Ci, ta, lo, pram. Stress on lo.
sit-uh-LOH-pram
/ˌsɪtəˈloʊpræm/
Citalopram is pronounced sit-uh-LOH-pram (/ˌsɪtəˈloʊpræm/). It has four syllables (Ci-ta-lo-pram), with the stress on "lo". Citalopram is a pharmaceutical noun referring to a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat depression and anxiety disorders. It is typically prescribed in tablet or liquid form, with dosage adjustable by a clinician. The term denotes the specific chemical compound and its therapeutic class, rather than a general medication category.
nounCitalopram is a pharmaceutical noun referring to a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat depression and anxiety disorders. It is typically prescribed in tablet or liquid form, with dosage adjustable by a clinician. The term denotes the specific chemical compound and its therapeutic class, rather than a general medication category.
"I was prescribed citalopram to manage my symptoms of depression."
"The clinician adjusted the citalopram dose after monitoring her response."
"Citalopram is often well-tolerated, but you should monitor potential side effects."
Pronounce as /ˌsɪtæˈlɒpræm/ (US) or /ˌsɪˈtæl.ə.præm/ (UK). Primary stress typically lands on the third syllable: ti-TA-lo-pram, but many say si-TA-lo-pram with secondary emphasis on the second syllable. Start with a light, quick 'si' then stress the 'ta' or 'tal' depending on accent, followed by 'pra.m'. Mouth shapes: start with a relaxed lip posture, place the tongue high and mid to create the 'ti' or 'si' onset, then tongue glides to an open front position for the 'ta' or 'tal' vowel, and finish with a clear 'pram' ending.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress on the first or last syllable (ti-TA-lo-pram vs si-TA-lo-pram). 2) Slurring the 'pram' into a vague 'bram' or 'pram' without clear 'p' aspiration. 3) Ineffective vowel quality in the second syllable (toward a lax /æ/ vs a true /æ/ or schwa). Correction: emphasize the mid- to open-front vowel in the second syllable and maintain the /l/ before the /ə/ or /æ/; ensure the final /æm/ is rounded into a crisp /præm/ with a clear /p/ release.
US typically yields /ˌsɪˈtæl.oʊ.præm/ with a rhotic /r/ influence in connected speech play. UK commonly /ˌsɪˈtæl.ə.præm/ with non-rhotic accents, a more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable, and clearer distinction between /l/ sequences. Australian tends toward /ˌsɪˈtæl.ə.præm/ with vowel reductions near the second syllable and a occasionally broader /æ/ in the stressed vowel. In all accents, the final /præm/ is held with a crisp /p/ and /m/ closure; density of syllabic consonants can alter perceived tempo.
It blends a multi-syllabic, unfamiliar chemical name with a cluster at the end: -lopram. The sequence /tæl/ or /tal/ sits between a tense alveolar stop and an /l/ lightened by a following schwa in many dialects. The final -pram combines a plosive /p/ with /ræm/ or /ræm/, which may blur for non-native speakers. Focus on the stressed syllable (often second or third) and practice the consonant cluster /tæl/ + /ə/ + /præm/ with a light, quick transition between syllables.
Yes, in many speakers the onset can sound like /sɪ/ (as in 'sit'), especially in fast speech where the alveolar /t/ and /d/ may blend. In careful speech you’ll hear /sɪ/ or /sə/ at the start depending on the regional vowel environment, but common modern usage favors /sɪ/ followed by a stronger /tæl/ or /tə/. Practicing clear separations helps avoid ambiguity.
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Citalopram originates from the drug’s chemical naming convention. The stem citar- is linked to the phthalate-style scaffold in its structure, while -lopram derives from nomenclature used in SSRIs and related compounds. The term entered medical lexicon in the 1990s as new antidepressants were developed, with regulatory approvals for various markets. The root elements reflect conventions in pharmaceutical naming, where prefixes and suffixes encode chemical class and activity. First uses occurred in clinical literature as trials established efficacy and safety profiles, followed by labeling and pharmacology references that standardized how clinicians refer to this molecule. Over time, “citalopram” became a fixed, widely recognized term in prescribing, pharmacology texts, and patient information leaflets, distinguishing it from other SSRIs like fluoxetine or sertraline while highlighting its specific chemical identity.
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Words that rhyme with "Citalopram"
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