4 syllables: I, so, nia, zid. Stress on nia.
eye-suh-NEYE-uh-zid
/ˌaɪsəˈnaɪəzɪd/
Isoniazid is pronounced eye-suh-NEYE-uh-zid (/ˌaɪsəˈnaɪəzɪd/). It has four syllables (I-so-nia-zid), with the stress on "nia". Isoniazid is a first-line antibiotic used to treat and prevent tuberculosis. It is a small heterocyclic amide that interferes with mycolic acid synthesis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Pronouncing it correctly helps ensure clear communication in medical contexts.
nounIsoniazid is a first-line antibiotic used to treat and prevent tuberculosis. It is a small heterocyclic amide that interferes with mycolic acid synthesis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Pronouncing it correctly helps ensure clear communication in medical contexts.
"The clinician prescribed isoniazid as part of the TB treatment regimen."
"She discussed isoniazid prophylaxis for people who were exposed to active TB."
"The pharmacist clarified the dosing schedule for isoniazid."
Pronounce as /ˌaɪ.soʊˈnaɪ.əˌzɪd/ in US; /ˌaɪ.səˈnaɪ.ə.zɪd/ in UK/other varieties. Emphasize the secondary stress on -nay- and the final -zid. Break it into three syllables: i-so-nia-zid, with a distinct 'ny' cluster for -nia- and a clear /z/ at the end. Mouth positions: start with a diphthong /aɪ/ as in 'eye', then /s/ + /oʊ/; glide into /ˈnaɪ/ with a tight jaw and raised tongue for the /ɪ/; finish with /ə/ before /zɪd/; ensure the final /d/ is crisp. Audio reference: see medical pronunciation tutorials linked in the video tab.
Two frequent errors: (1) incorrectly stressing the middle syllable, causing /ˌaɪ.soʊˈnaɪ.ə.zɪd/ to slide stress to -ny-; (2) conflating -nia- with -nyə- as /ˈnaɪ.ə/ rather than /ˈnaɪ.ə/. Correction: maintain clear /ˈnaɪ/ for the second syllable and produce /ə/ before the final /zɪd/. Also watch for a voiceless vs voiced /d/: avoid ending with a soft /t/ – finalize with a crisp /d/. Practice the transitions between /z/ and /d/ to prevent frication.
US tends to place primary stress on the final -zid: /ˌaɪ.soʊˈnaɪ.əˌzɪd/. UK often shifts slightly toward /ˌaɪ.səˈnaɪ.ə.zɪd/ with less aggressive final consonant release; Australian follows US-like patterns but with non-rhoticity influences in careful patient communication, yielding /ˌaɪ.səˈnaɪ.əˌzɪd/ or /ˌaɪˌsoʊ.naɪˈɒzɪd/ depending on speaker. Across accents, vowel quality changes: /oʊ/ in US may be a pure /əʊ/ in UK, and /ɪə/ variants in some Australian speech.
The difficulty centers on the multi-syllabic, three-consonant cluster at the end (-nia-zid) and the combination of short and long vowels: /ˌaɪ/ then /soʊ/ then /ˈnaɪ.ə/ before /zɪd/. The presence of the alveolar /z/ followed by a voiced /d/ at the end can blur in rapid speech. Also, the homophony risk with similar drug names; precise enunciation of nua-/nia- and -zid is essential to avoid confusion. Practice the transition from the /z/ to the /d/ with a brief pause to ensure distinction.
In Isoniazid, the ending is pronounced as /ɪd/ with a voiced alveolar stop before the final syllable, so it sounds like -zɪd, where the final 'd' is audible. Do not reduce to a voiceless /t/ or skip the /d/. This is a key distinguishing feature from other drug names ending in -ide, where the vowel and final consonant can shift. Focus on articulating the /z/ before the /ɪd/ clearly to maintain the correct -zid syllable.
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Isoniazid derives from its chemical descriptor relating to isonicotinic hydrazide. The root lies in isonicotinic acid, a derivative of nicotinic acid (vitamin B3-related structure), combined with hydrazide to form the hydrazide linkage that defines the molecule. The term likely entered English scientific vocabulary in the mid-20th century as acetylated isonicotinyl hydrazide analogs were explored for antimycobacterial activity. The naming convention reflects the compound’s functional groups and core isonicotinic moiety rather than a person’s name or a place. The first successful clinical use dates to the 1950s, when isoniazid revolutionized TB treatment by drastically reducing disease progression and transmission when used in combination therapy. Over time, the word has become a standard, nonproprietary drug name in medical literature and pharmacology references globally. The pronunciation and spelling have remained stable, even as the pharmacopoeia evolved to include fixed-dose combinations and shorter treatment courses. Contemporary texts often refer to INH as shorthand for isoniazid, especially in clinical notes and pharmacy records.
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