5 syllables: Hy, dro, cor, ti, sone. Stress on cor.
heye-droh-KAWR-tuh-zohn
/ˌhaɪdɹoʊˈkɔɹtəˌzoʊn/
Hydrocortisone is pronounced heye-droh-KAWR-tuh-zohn (/ˌhaɪdɹoʊˈkɔɹtəˌzoʊn/). It has five syllables (Hy-dro-cor-ti-sone), with the stress on "cor". Hydrocortisone is a corticosteroid used to reduce inflammation and suppress immune responses. It can refer to the hormone produced by the adrenal gland or synthetic forms used in medicine. In everyday usage, it’s discussed as a treatment for skin conditions, allergic reactions, and endocrine disorders, often as a topical or systemic medication.
nounHydrocortisone is a corticosteroid used to reduce inflammation and suppress immune responses. It can refer to the hormone produced by the adrenal gland or synthetic forms used in medicine. In everyday usage, it’s discussed as a treatment for skin conditions, allergic reactions, and endocrine disorders, often as a topical or systemic medication.
"The doctor prescribed hydrocortisone cream to treat the irritated rash."
"Athletes sometimes use hydrocortisone to reduce swelling after minor injuries."
"Hydrocortisone tablets are taken to compensate low cortisol levels."
Hydrocortisone is pronounced hy-dro-KOR-ti-zone in most US and UK dictionaries, with primary stress on the third syllable. Break it into hi-dro-KOR-ti-zone, noting the /ˌhaɪdroʊˈkɔːrtɪˌsoʊn/ (US) or /ˌhaɪ.drəˈkɔː.tɪˌsəʊn/ (UK). Start with /ˈhaɪ/ shelf-ry, then /dro/ as a quick schwa followed by /ˈkɔːrt/ with a dark 'o' vowel, then /ɪ/ and finally /ˈsoʊn/ or /səʊn/. You’ll hear “KOR-tih-zone” in US usage and “KOR-tih-sown” in some UK pronunciations; keep the final /n/ clear. Audio references: see Pronounce or reputable dictionary audio.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress, saying /ˌhaɪdroʊˈkɔrtɪˌsoʊn/ with the stress on the wrong syllable, and pronouncing the final -sone as -zone or -sone with a reduced vowel. Another frequent error is blending /ˈkɔːrtɪ/ into /ˈkɔːtɪ/ or mispronouncing the ‘hydro-’ as a single smooth block without stressing the middle. Correct by clearly separating hy-dro, stressing the CORT syllable, and finishing with /soʊn/, not /zoun/.
Across accents, the core segments remain, but rhoticity and vowel quality shift. US speakers favor rhotic /ˈhaɪdroʊˌkɔːrtɪˌsoʊn/ with an r-colored /ɔːr/ in ‘cort’, UK often uses non-rhotic or lighter rhotic influence with /ˈhaɪ.drəˈkɔː.tɪˌsəʊn/ and a clipped final /əʊn/; Australian tends to a broader vowel in the second syllable and a clear /ɔː/ and final /ən/ or /oʊn/. Focus on maintaining /ˈkɔːr/ in US and /ˈkɔː.tɪ/ in UK/AU. Listen to dictionary audio in each variant.
Difficulties stem from the combination of a multi-syllabic, compound word with quick consonant clusters: the /ˈhaɪdro/ onset, the /kɔːrt/ cluster, and the final /soʊn/ or /səʊn/. The unstressed syllables can obscure the middle /ˈdro-/ and the final /-sone/ can be confused with /-zone/ in casual speech. Practice by isolating each part, then linking smoothly while keeping the primary stress on the middle syllable and a crisp final /n/.
Hydrocortisone includes the - cortisone family, which often causes mispronunciation when speakers generalize from other corticosteroids. Ensure you articulate the 'cort' as /kɔːrt/ (US) or /kɔːt/ (UK) with a clear /ɒ/ or /ɔː/ vowel, then separate the final -isone-/ -zone- endings. The unique challenge is the transition from the 'dro' syllable to 'cor-ti-' and finally '-zone', so practice the whole word in slow, then medium, then fast tempo to maintain segment integrity.
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Hydrocortisone derives from hydro- (water, indicating hydroxyl groups), cortis- (relating to the cortex or cortex-like structures, from cortex), and -one (a common suffix for ketone steroids). The term reflects a synthetic or natural corticosteroid with a hydroxy group; “hydro-” signals its hydrophilic characteristics or derivation from hydroxy compounds, while “cortisone” ties it to the cortical steroids originally discovered in adrenal cortex. The compound is a derivative of cortisol (hydrocortisone) and shares its name with the natural hormone cortisol, with the “hydro-” prefix emphasizing its chemical structure. First used in medical chemistry in the mid-20th century as synthetic glucocorticoids became common therapies for inflammation, dermatologic conditions, and endocrine disorders. The word entered clinical lexicon as standardized naming for formulations including creams and tablets, distinguishing it from other corticosteroids by its exact chemical structure and pharmacologic profile. Over time, “hydrocortisone” became a generic drug name in many countries, while brand names vary. The historical development reflects advances in steroid synthesis, pharmacokinetics, and broader therapeutic use, including topical and systemic applications. In etymology sources, the root cortis- links to cortex/adrenal cortex origins, while -one denotes a ketone steroid class. First known written attestations appear in pharmacology literature around the 1950s–1960s as synthetic hydrocortisone gained clinical traction.
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Words that rhyme with "Hydrocortisone"
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