3 syllables: Me, flo, quine. Stress on Me.
MEF-loh-kweyen
/ˈmɛfloʊkwaɪn/
Mefloquine is pronounced MEF-loh-kweyen (/ˈmɛfloʊkwaɪn/). It has three syllables (Me-flo-quine), with the stress on "Me". Mefloquine is a synthetic antimalarial medication used for prevention and treatment of malaria. It is typically prescribed for travelers and in endemic regions, often as a daily or weekly dose, with a monitoring plan for potential neuropsychiatric side effects. The name itself refers to the drug class and chemical structure rather than common everyday usage.
nounMefloquine is a synthetic antimalarial medication used for prevention and treatment of malaria. It is typically prescribed for travelers and in endemic regions, often as a daily or weekly dose, with a monitoring plan for potential neuropsychiatric side effects. The name itself refers to the drug class and chemical structure rather than common everyday usage.
Tip: hum through the word before speaking to lock the rhythm, then practice with a mirror to monitor lip rounding, tongue height, and jaw alignment.
How to Pronounce Mefloquine
"You’ll take mefloquine weekly if you’re traveling to a area with malaria risk."
"The doctor discussed potential neuropsychiatric side effects associated with mefloquine."
"She asked about mefloquine’s interactions with other medications and vitamins."
Pronounce as meh-FLO-keen, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US: /ˌmɛfˈloʊˌkwin/ or /ˌmɛfˈloʊkiːn/ depending on accent; UK and AU often tilt toward /ˌmɛfˈləʊˌkiːn/ or /ˌmɛfˈləʊˌkwiːn/. Start with mef- as in ‘meh’ then FLO as in ‘flow,’ and -quine as ‘keen’ or ‘kween,’ depending on dialect; end with a rapid but clear -kwine/-keen blend.
Common errors: flattening the second syllable stress (MEF-lo-quin) instead of emphasizing FLO; mispronouncing -quine as ‘kwin’ vs. ‘keen’ in different dialects; swallowing the middle vowel or turning -lo- into a reduced vowel. Correction tips: keep the FLO syllable strong, use a clear long o in -loʊ-, and choose -quin as either ‘-keen’ or ‘-kween’ depending on your target accent. Practice with a mirror to ensure lip rounding and jaw height remain steady on the FLO portion.
US tends to place strong on FLO and uses a longer o sound: meh-FLOH-quin. UK/AU may reduce the second vowel slightly and favor /ləʊ/ or /loʊ/ in the second syllable, with some speakers merging -quine toward /-kiːn/ or /-kwin/. Rhoticity influences the initial /mɛf/ cluster slightly; non-rhotic dialects may affect r-coloring in adjacent syllables. In all, keep the FLO syllable prominent; the final -quine tends to be a long e- or i-sound in most educated speech, but can shift with accent.
The challenge lies in the multi-consonant cluster and the variable ending. The second syllable hosts a clear ‘flo’ with a stress peak that must not blur into the following ‘quine’ segment. The final -quine can be pronounced as /ˈkwin/ or /ˈkiːn/, depending on the speaker’s background, which adds a regional variance. Additionally, the sequence meFLO-QUINE requires precise mouth positioning to avoid a slurred transition between syllables. Focus on consistent lip rounding and a stable jaw position through the word.
There are no silent letters in mefloquine; every letter contributes phonemically. The main quirk is the -quine ending, which can be realized as /-kwin/ or /-kiːn/ and may be influenced by regional speech patterns. The first syllable utilizes a short, clipped me-, the second syllable carries the primary stress, and the final -quine demands careful articulation of the /kw/ cluster followed by a high front vowel or glide. Keep all phonemes audible for clarity.
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Phoneme notes: /m/ bilabial nasal, /ɛ/ open-mid front vowel, /f/ labiodental fricative, /l/ lateral, /oʊ/ diphthong, /k/ voiceless velar stop, /w/ bilabial-velar approximant, /ɪ/ or /iː/ in final vowel depending on accent. IPA references help anchor accuracy.
Mefloquine was developed in the 20th century as part of the expansion of synthetic antimalarial drugs. The word is constructed from the drug’s chemical naming conventions: ‘meflo-’ derives from mefloquine’s parent compounds and its quinoline backbone, while the suffix ‘-quine’ aligns with other antimalarial quinoline derivatives (e.g., quinine). The term appears in medical literature in the 1980s as this compound progressed through clinical trials and regulatory evaluation. Its emergence reflects the pharmaceutical tradition of naming agents by structural features and intended use, rather than descriptive effects. The first known use in published form is linked to pharmacology journals reporting efficacy and safety data for travelers and endemic populations. Over subsequent decades, mefloquine became established as a key prophylactic option, particularly where resistance to other agents emerged, solidifying its place in travel medicine and malaria control programs.
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Words that rhyme with "Mefloquine"
-kin sounds
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