4 syllables: fu, ro, se, mide. Stress on ro.
fyoo-ROH-see-meyed
/fjuːˈroʊsiːmaɪd/
furosemide is pronounced fyoo-ROH-see-meyed (/fjuːˈroʊsiːmaɪd/). It has four syllables (fu-ro-se-mide), with the stress on "ro". Furosemide is a loop diuretic medication used to reduce fluid buildup from heart failure, liver disease, or kidney problems. It’s commonly prescribed to treat edema and hypertension. The term itself refers to the chemical diuretic class, and correct pronunciation helps clinicians and patients communicate dosing and indications clearly.
Furosemide is a loop diuretic medication used to reduce fluid buildup from heart failure, liver disease, or kidney problems. It’s commonly prescribed to treat edema and hypertension. The term itself refers to the chemical diuretic class, and correct pronunciation helps clinicians and patients communicate dosing and indications clearly.
- Misplacing primary stress on fu- or ro- instead of SE-mid; practice with slow, deliberate emphasis on the third syllable. - Vowel confusions in the middle: avoid turning /ro/ into a schwa and /siː/ into /sɪ/. Keep a crisp long /iː/ in -mide. - Final consonant devoicing or swallowing: ensure a voiced final /d/ and a clean release, not a clipped or silent ending. - In connected speech, the /r/ in US non-rhotic dialects may be weak or omitted; practice with or without rhoticity and adjust accordingly.
"The patient was prescribed furosemide to manage congestive edema."
"She asked the pharmacist for instructions on how to take furosemide with meals."
"In the chart note, the doctor listed furosemide as part of the heart failure regimen."
US/UK/AU pronunciation aligns to /ˌfjʊroʊˈsiːmɪd/ or /ˌfjʊəˈroʊˌsiːˌmɪd/ depending on dialect. The primary stress sits on the third syllable: fu-ro-SE-mid. Start with an initial /fj/ blend, then /ʊ/ as in 'put', followed by /ro/ or /rə/ depending on accent, then /siː/ or /si/ and end with /mɪd/. Keep the final /d/ soft but audible. Reference audio: you can hear the rhythm in medical pronunciation resources and Forvo entries for furosemide.
Two frequent errors: misplacing the primary stress (putting it on the second or last syllable) and mispronouncing the /ju/ as /uː/ or dropping the second vowel. Correct by echoing the pattern fu-ro-SE-mid with a clear /siː/ for the ‘si’ and a crisp /d/ at the end. Practice the /fj/ blend at the start and ensure the mid vowel is not reduced. Remember the final ‘mide’ sounds: /siːˌmɪd/ or /siːmɪd/ depending on dialect.
US tends to use /ˌfjʊroʊˈsiːmɪd/ with a rhotic /r/ and a longer 'ee' in the middle; UK often uses /ˌfjʊəˈrəʊsiːmɪd/ with non-rhotic /r/ and a rounded /əʊ/ for the second vowel; AU blends ♪ /ˌfjʊrəˈsiːmɪd/ with a more centralized vowel in the middle syllable and a pronounced final /d/. Across accents, the critical differences are rhoticity, vowel quality in the second syllable, and the subtle length of the final syllable.
Because it contains a multisyllabic mouthful with an initial /fj/ cluster and a long vowel in the middle, followed by an unstressed mid syllable and a final /mɪd/. The stress lands on SE-mide; misplacing it alters meaning. The string /ro/ or /rə/ before /siː/ and /mɪd/ can be tricky for non-native speakers, plus brand-name equivalents (Lasix) can bias pronunciation. Focus on syllable-timed rhythm and accurate vowel lengths.
A unique check is to ensure you’re not replacing the /siː/ with /sɪ/ and that the syllable boundaries are clear: fu-ro-SE-mide. The hidden cue is the long /iː/ in the third syllable; you should feel tension and height in the tongue tip for /siː/. Also ensure the final /d/ is released, not swallowed. If you can say the brand Lasix with similar rhythm, you’ve aligned well with medical usage.
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- US: Pronounce /fjʊroʊˈsiːmɪd/ with a clear rhotic /r/. The vowel in -ro- is a mid-close /oʊ/ around schwa; the -si- is long /siː/. Use a slightly longer vowel in the stressed syllable. - UK: /ˌfjʊəˈrəʊsiːmɪd/ with non-rhotic /r/ and a more diphthongal /əʊ/ in -ro, and the final -mide close to /ː/; length is variable but the /siː/ remains long. - AU: /ˌfjʊrəˈsiːmɪd/ with a near-neutral rhoticity and similar vowel lengths; slightly more centralized vowel sounds and flatter intonation. IPA guides show more centralized /ə/ in the middle syllable; maintain the long /iː/ and final /d/.
Furosemide derives from chemical naming conventions: ‘furo-’ indicating a furan ring, and ‘-semide’ from a class-based suffix used for diuretics that act on the loop of Henle. The compound builds on the sulfonamide diuretic family, with a benzene-sulfonamide moiety that confers its potency. The term entered pharmacological literature in the mid-20th century as researchers cataloged loop diuretics; first known uses appear in scientific journals in the 1960s as furosemide was developed and later marketed under brand names such as Lasix. Over time, the word has become a standard term in medical communication, trial reports, and prescribing guidelines worldwide, especially in contexts of edema management and renal function assessment.
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Words that rhyme with "furosemide"
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