3 syllables: med, i, cines. Stress on med.
MED-uh-suhnz
/ˈmɛdəsənz/
medicines is pronounced MED-uh-suhnz (/ˈmɛdəsənz/). It has three syllables (med-i-cines), with the stress on "med". Medicines refers to substances used to treat, cure, prevent, or alleviate illness, typically in pill, liquid, or topical form. The term encompasses both over-the-counter and prescription drugs. In everyday speech, it often appears in healthcare contexts and patient guidance, where accurate stress and pronunciation aid comprehension.
Medicines refers to substances used to treat, cure, prevent, or alleviate illness, typically in pill, liquid, or topical form. The term encompasses both over-the-counter and prescription drugs. In everyday speech, it often appears in healthcare contexts and patient guidance, where accurate stress and pronunciation aid comprehension.
"The doctor prescribed medicines to manage her symptoms."
"She kept her medicines in a locked cabinet."
"Always check the expiry date on your medicines before use."
Pronounce MED-uh-sins with the primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈmɛdɪsənz/ in US and UK, and /ˈmedɪsɪnz/ in Australian speech. Start with a clear /m/ followed by a short /ɛ/ or /e/ vowel, then a light /d/ to blend into /ɪ/ in the second syllable. The final -s is voiced as /z/ or /s/ depending on the following sound; in careful speech it’s /z/ as in ‘medicines’ pluralizing the noun. Listen for the quick, unstressed second syllable and avoid tensing the /d/.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying /ˈmɛdɪksən/ with a hard /ks/ cluster or stressing the second syllable), and mispronouncing the final -ines as /ɪnz/ or dropping the final /z/ altogether. To correct: keep the first syllable strong with /ˈmɛd/; reduce the second syllable to /ɪ/ or /ə/ quickly, then add a voiced final /z/; rehearse MED-uh-sins with a light, voiced ending /z/ so it sounds natural in connected speech.
In US English, /ˈmɛdɪsənz/ with a clear /ˈmɛd/ and final /z/. UK English often shifts to /ˈmedɪsɪnz/ with a slightly shorter /e/ and a more centralized second syllable. Australian English tends toward /ˈmedɪsənz/ with less rhoticity influence but keeps the final /z/. The key differences are vowel quality in the first syllable and the vowel in the second, while the final plural is typically voiced. Practice by listening to the same word in each locale.
The difficulty lies in the quick transition from /d/ to a schwa-like /ɪ/ in the middle syllable, and then the plural ending /z/ which may slip to /s/ in rapid speech. Additionally, the cluster /ds/ can blur into a single sound for non-native speakers; keeping the /d/ and /s/ distinct helps. Focus on sustaining a short, stressed /ˈmɛd/ while shaping the following vowel and ending with a crisp /z/.
A distinctive feature is the contrast between the stressed first syllable /ˈmed/ and the subsequent reduced /ɪs/ in some dialects, which can lead to sounding like /ˈmedʒəsənz/ if the /d/ blends into the next consonant. The correct pattern is /ˈmɛdɪsənz/ with a short, unstressed second syllable and a voiced final /z/. Paying attention to the transition from /d/ to /s/ helps maintain clarity.
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The word medicines originates from the Middle English medyson, derived from Old French medicines, which in turn comes from the Latin medicina meaning the healing art or remedy. Latin medicina derives from mederi ‘to heal’ and arte ‘art’ (as in ars medicinae, ‘the art of healing’). The plural form medicines appears as a natural extension of the singular medicine in English usage by the 16th century, with emphasis shifting from single remedies to the broader category of therapeutic substances. Across history, ‘medicine’ has referred both to substances that restore health and to the organized science of pharmacology. In modern English, medicines is the plural, used when speaking of multiple drugs or a class of therapeutic agents, while medicine (singular) can refer to the discipline, the practice, or a single therapeutic agent in a non-count sense. First known uses are attested in Middle English pharmacological texts, with the sense of a curative preparation becoming common by the early modern period. Over time, the term expanded to cover a wide range of pharmacological forms and standards of dosing and administration in medical practice.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "medicines" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "medicines" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "medicines"
-ses sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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