3 syllables: I, pe, cac. Stress on I.
IP-ik-ak
/ˈɪpɪkæk/
Ipecac is pronounced IP-ik-ak (/ˈɪpɪkæk/). It has three syllables (I-pe-cac), with the stress on "I". Ipecac is a medicinal emetic derived from the dried root of the ipecacuanha shrub, formerly widely used to induce vomiting. In modern contexts it is less common due to safety concerns, but remains notable in pharmacology and poison-control discussions. The term also appears in historical medical literature and pharmacy references as a generic emetic agent.
nounIpecac is a medicinal emetic derived from the dried root of the ipecacuanha shrub, formerly widely used to induce vomiting. In modern contexts it is less common due to safety concerns, but remains notable in pharmacology and poison-control discussions. The term also appears in historical medical literature and pharmacy references as a generic emetic agent.
"The doctor prescribed a small dose of ipecac to induce vomiting after the patient ingested a toxic substance."
"Emergency responders may administer ipecac only when advised and under proper guidance."
"Old textbooks describe ipecac as an effective emetic in cases where prompt gastric emptying was necessary."
Pronounce as /ˌaɪ.pɪˈkæk/. Break it into three syllables: i-PEK-ak, with primary stress on the third syllable ‘kæk’. Start with the long I sound as in ‘eye’, then a short ‘puh’ or ‘pe’ before the final ‘kack’ with an open front vowel in the middle. In ordinary speech you’ll hear the second syllable reduced to a quick ‘pi’ before the stressed ‘kæk’. Audio reference: IPA guides and medical diction apps corroborate /ˌaɪ.pɪˈkæk/.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (placing emphasis on the first or second rather than the third), mispronouncing the final /æ/ as a longer /æː/ or as a schwa, and softening the /k/ into /t/ or /g/. Correction: keep primary stress on the final syllable /ˈkæk/ and cut the middle vowel to a short /ɪ/ or /ɪ/ in ‘i-PEE-kak’ with a crisp /k/ release.
In US/UK/AU, the initial /aɪ/ (eye) vowel remains consistent. The middle syllable uses /ɪ/ or /ɪə/ depending on speaker; US often reduces to a lighter /ɪ/ while UK and AU may show a slightly longer or tighter /ɪ/ before the stressed /kæk/. Final /kæ/ has a hard velar stop; rhotics don’t alter this word. Overall, the rhythm is three syllables with stress on the third: /ˌaɪ.pɪˈkæk/.
Two main challenges: the tri-syllabic structure with stress on the last syllable, and the ending /kæk/ that requires a precise velar stop release without adding a following vowel. The 'i' in the first syllable is a long vowel /aɪ/ that must not slide into a /ɪ/; many speakers misplace stress or reduce the middle vowel. Practicing with slow, controlled consonant release and IPA cues helps.
A notable quirk is the double-consonant-like feel of the ending cluster /kæk/ where the /k/ is immediately followed by a vowel-like stop in rapid speech; keep it crisp and avoid elongating the /æ/—the final syllable should be compact and clearly released. Remember to place primary stress on the final syllable even in rapid speech.
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Ipecac comes from the Brazilian-Portuguese tupi word ipeka, referring to the ipecacuanha shrub (Cephaelis ipecacuanha) used by Indigenous peoples and early European pharmacologists as a source of emetic properties. The term entered English in the 17th–18th centuries via medical texts describing powdered root preparations. Historically, ipecac was central to emergency poison-management protocols in both civilian and military medicine, valued for its rapid emetic action before improvements in decontamination methods. As regulatory guidance evolved in the 20th and 21st centuries, safer alternatives and poison-control guidelines reduced routine use. The name continues to appear in pharmacopeias and reference works, though its practical role has diminished in many regions due to safety concerns. It is now primarily encountered in pharmacology history, toxicology case reports, and emergency medicine literature. First known use in English traces to late 1600s medical annals, with root compounds described in European pharmacopoeias by the 1700s. Etymology reflects its plant origin (ipecacuanha) and the rooted practice of altitude-area hunting for medicinal materials in colonial trade routes.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Ipecac" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Ipecac"
-ack sounds
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