3 syllables: Lid, o, caine. Stress on Lid.
LID-uh-kayn
/ˈlɪdəˌkeɪn/
Lidocaine is pronounced LID-uh-kayn (/ˈlɪdəˌkeɪn/). It has three syllables (Lid-o-caine), with the stress on "Lid". Lidocaine is a local anesthetic used to numb tissue in a specific area. It is typically administered by injection or topical application during medical procedures. The term also refers to products containing this anesthetic, and it is widely recognized in clinical settings and pharmaceutical labeling.
nounLidocaine is a local anesthetic used to numb tissue in a specific area. It is typically administered by injection or topical application during medical procedures. The term also refers to products containing this anesthetic, and it is widely recognized in clinical settings and pharmaceutical labeling.
How to Pronounce Lidocaine
"The dentist applied lidocaine before the cavity filling."
"Lidocaine ointment can relieve sunburn pain when applied sparingly."
"She was given lidocaine to numb the area before the procedure."
Pronounce as LIH-doh-kain with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈlaɪ.dəˌkeɪn/, UK /ˈlaɪ.dəˌkeɪn/, AU /ˈlaɪ.dəˌkeɪn/. Break it into three parts: LI (like lie), do (də as a schwa), kain (kayn). You’ll ever hear it as LAI-duh-KAYN in rapid speech. Practice by saying: lie-duh-kayn, with the 'kay' sound held slightly longer.”,
Common errors: 1) Dropping the second syllable stress, saying LIH-DOH-KEIN instead of LI- duh-KAIN, 2) Mispronouncing the final -aine as a rounded 'oin' rather than 'kain', 3) Slurring the second syllable into the first (laɪ-də-KAYN vs. LAI-də-KEYN). Correction: clearly separate three segments LI- də - keɪn, with the final diphthong kept short but precise. Use a slow, syllable-by-syllable drill: lie-də-kayn with a crisp K before the final long a.”,
In US, primary stress on LI, with clear /laɪ/ and trailing /ˌkeɪn/. UK tends to similar rhythm but may reduce the middle vowel slightly toward a schwa; AU often mirrors US but with a slightly faster tempo and less vowel length difference. IPA cues: US /ˈlaɪ.dəˌkeɪn/, UK /ˈlaɪ.dəˌkeɪn/, AU /ˈlaɪ.dəˌkeɪn/. The rhoticity does not change the word’s sound significantly; the main variation is vowel quality and tempo.
Two main challenges: the /dɒ/ vs /də/ middle vowel and the final /keɪn/ which can blend with a trailing vowel in fast speech. The sequence LI + də + keɪn requires precise articulation to avoid blending into li-doun? or lid-uh-keen. Keep the middle a clear schwa and emphasize the final -ain as /keɪn/. Practice by isolating three phonemes: /laɪ/ /də/ /keɪn/ and linking them slowly.
Lidocaine contains the three-cluster flow LI-də-KEɪn where the first syllable carries strong initial onset, the middle is a light schwa, and the final syllable contains the diphthong /keɪn/. The combination can cause misplacement of stress when speaking quickly; ensure you maintain clear onset on /laɪ/ and keep the /keɪn/ intact without eliding. Practicing with minimal pairs can help you hear the contrast between LI-/laɪ/ and /ˌkeɪn/.
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Lidocaine originates from the chemical name diethylaminoacetanilide combined with the lidocaine-structure naming conventions from the 1940s. The first part, li- is from the preceding Latin/Greek root tradition used in pharmaceutical naming, while -caine aligns with the morphinan-like anesthetic suffix used since cocaine popularization in the late 19th century. The molecule belongs to the amide class of local anesthetics, developed to produce reversible nerve conduction blockade. The earliest documented use of lidocaine in medical settings traces to the 1940s when Swedish or German researchers refined its synthesis, with rapid clinical adoption in the 1950s and subsequent standardization for regional anesthesia, dentistry, and topical preparations. The name became a global standard, appearing in pharmacopoeias and medical literature, with the trademarked “Xylocaine” common in many regions. Over time, lidocaine has been extended into various formulations, including injectable anesthetics and topical gels or sprays, maintaining its core identity as a rapid-onset, medium-duration local anesthetic.”,
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Lidocaine" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Lidocaine"
-ign sounds
-ine sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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