4 syllables: Me, lox, i, cam. Stress on lox.
muh-LAHK-sik-am
/məˈlɑksɪkæm/
Meloxicam is pronounced muh-LAHK-sik-am (/məˈlɑksɪkæm/). It has four syllables (Me-lox-i-cam), with the stress on "lox". Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to relieve pain and inflammation in conditions like arthritis. It belongs to the oxicam class and is typically prescribed for moderate to severe pain with a relatively long half-life. Pronunciation guidance helps ensure accurate prescribing, patient communication, and clear clinical documentation.
nounMeloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to relieve pain and inflammation in conditions like arthritis. It belongs to the oxicam class and is typically prescribed for moderate to severe pain with a relatively long half-life. Pronunciation guidance helps ensure accurate prescribing, patient communication, and clear clinical documentation.
"The patient was prescribed meloxicam 7.5 mg daily for osteoarthritis."
"Meloxicam reduced joint swelling and improved mobility within a week."
"She reported upset stomach as a potential side effect of meloxicam."
Meloxicam is pronounced meh-LOX-ih-kam, with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US / məˈlɒk.sɪ.kæm /, UK / məˈlɒk.sɪ.kæm /, AU / məˈlɒk.sɪ.kæm. Open your mouth slightly wider for the /ɒ/ as in 'lot', and keep the /k/ crisp before the /s/; the final /æm/ mirrors ‘ham’ but with a short, relaxed vowel. Audio reference: listen to medical pronunciation demonstrations on reputable dictionaries or platforms like Forvo.
Common mistakes include stressing the wrong syllable (placing emphasis on ‘i’ or ‘ca’), mispronouncing the /ɒ/ as a short /æ/ like in 'cat’, and softening the final /m/ or adding an extra syllable. Correct by placing primary stress on the second syllable: me-LOX-i-cam, ensure /ɒ/ as in 'lot', and end with a crisp /m/. Visualize it as meh-LOX-ih-kam and practice the transition from /k/ to /s/ to /k/ in rapid speech.
In US/UK/AU, the initial “Me” sounds as /mə/ (schwa) in all, with the main stress on the second syllable: /məˈlɒk.sɪ.kæm/. Vowel quality for /ɒ/ may be broader in UK and AU; r-coloring is not present in non-rhotic varieties, so US and AU speakers may have slightly different /ɹ/ involvement in connected speech but the word itself remains largely non-rhotic. In practice, you’ll hear slight length differences and a crisper /ks/ sequence in some US pronunciations.
The difficulty lies in the multisyllabic cadence, the /ˈlɒk/ cluster, and the /ks/ sequence followed by a vowel-consonant slip into /ɪ.kæm/. Speakers often misplace stress or simplify /ɒ/ to /æ/, and may blur the /ks/ into a single /k/ sound. Focus on maintaining the consonant cluster /lɒk.sɪ/ clearly, and practice the separation between /k/ and /s/ to preserve the “lox-i” portion.
A Meloxicam-specific concern is the potential for misreading the brand nameVariants in pharmacy labels; ensure you’re pronouncing the generic name correctly even when a brand name like Mobic is present. The core challenge is keeping the /lɒk/ cluster crisp while maintaining the /ɪ.kæm/ tail without compressing it into a single syllable. Use slow pronunciation in noisy labels to confirm the word in prescription contexts.
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Meloxicam derives its name from a fusion of chemical components and the NSAID class naming conventions. The root oxi- hints at the oxicam core, a bicyclic heteroaromatic system central to its structure, while -icam reflects the acidic pharmacophores common to certain NSAIDs. The prefix mel- does not imply a direct relation to “melody” or “melanin”; rather, it is a branding-derived syllable that entered pharmacology naming traditions as researchers labeled related compounds. First introduced in the late 1990s, meloxicam gained FDA approval in the United States (about 2000) as a selective COX-2/COX-1 inhibitor with favorable GI tolerability profile compared with older NSAIDs. Over time, the term meloxicam has become entrenched in clinical dialogue, pharmacology texts, and generic drug registries, with brand names such as Mobic reinforcing its recognition. The evolution of NSAID naming conventions—rooted in chemical class descriptors, root heterocycles, and contraction of longer systematic names—contributes to meloxicam’s concise, reusable form in medical communication. The first known uses appear in pharmacology literature and drug databases around the turn of the millennium, and its usage has persisted due to its clinical niche, safety profile considerations, and formulary ubiquity.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Meloxicam" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Meloxicam"
-cam sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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