5 syllables: Meth, am, phe, ta, mine. Stress on phe.
meth-am-FET-uh-meen
/ˌmɛθæˈmfɛtəmin/
Methamphetamine is pronounced meth-am-FET-uh-meen (/ˌmɛθæˈmfɛtəmin/). It has five syllables (Meth-am-phe-ta-mine), with the stress on "phe". Methamphetamine is a potent central nervous system stimulant used medically in rare cases but primarily known as an illegal drug. It is a compound with two amine groups and a phenethyl backbone; it significantly increases alertness and energy. Its name reflects its chemical structure and stimulant properties, and it is discussed in medical, legal, and forensic contexts.
nounMethamphetamine is a potent central nervous system stimulant used medically in rare cases but primarily known as an illegal drug. It is a compound with two amine groups and a phenethyl backbone; it significantly increases alertness and energy. Its name reflects its chemical structure and stimulant properties, and it is discussed in medical, legal, and forensic contexts.
"The police seized a large quantity of methamphetamine at the warehouse."
"Researchers are studying the neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine exposure."
"Treatment programs address methamphetamine addiction and relapse prevention."
Pronounce as mə-THAM-fuh-tee-n. Stress sits on the third syllable (the antepenultimate) in many speech patterns: meth-uh-MAPH-uh-teen? Actually, the primary stress is on the third syllable: meth-æm-ˈfiː-tiːn for US/UK, with a secondary stress on the second syllable in some registers. IPA US: məˈθæmˌfiːtiːn; UK: ˌmɛθæmˈfiːtiːn. Start with a soft schwa in the first syllable, then a strong /θ/ as in think, then /æ/ or /æ/ and /m/ cluster, ending with /tiːn/.”,
Common mistakes: (1) Misplacing stress, saying meth-THAM-ah-fee-teen or meth-a-MEF-a-teen; (2) Mispronouncing the /θ/ as /t/ or /s/; (3) Dropping the final -ine or mispronouncing as -een. Correction: keep /θ/ as in think, place primary stress on the third syllable: mə-THAM-fuh-tee-n, with final /tiːn/ and clear /f/ before /iː/; practice with slow tempo until you maintain the /θ/ and /f/ sequence.”,
US tends to reduce the unstressed first syllable to schwa and maintain tense /æ/ in the second syllable; UK often emphasizes the second syllable with a slightly different vowel quality; AU mirrors US but may display a more non-rhotic pattern in casual speech and softer /t/ release. IPA guides: US məˈθæmˌfiːtiːn, UK ˌmɛθæmˈfiːtiːn, AU ˌmɛθæmˈfiːtiːn. Consistent /θ/ and /f/ for all, but vowel timing differs.”,
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /θm-/ following a stressed syllable, the alveolar fricative /θ/ (think) followed by /m/ without a vowel in between, and the long final -ine with /iːn/. Also, the inter-syllabic rhythm can be rapid. Practice by isolating the sequence /θæm/ and then adding /ˌfiːtiːn/ after a brief pause, ensuring the /θ/ is clearly produced and not replaced by /t/ or /s/.”,
A unique feature is the contrast between the voiceless dental fricative /θ/ and the following alveolar /m/ in rapid speech; speakers often mispronounce as /t/ or /d/ or merge /θæm/ into /sæm/. Focus on producing the dental /θ/ distinctly, using the tongue tip between the upper and lower teeth, and then immediately release into the bilabial /m/. IPA: məˈθæmˌfiːtiːn.
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Methamphetamine derives from the chemical name N-methyl-1-phenylpropan-2-amine. The term methamphetamine is composed of the prefix meth- indicating a methyl derivative, the phenyl- group from the benzene ring, and amphetamine, the core class name from amine and phenylpropan-2-amine. The “-amphetamine” portion hails from amphetamine, a stimulant first synthesized in the late 19th century, with its pharmacology expanding in the 1920s–1950s to include various methylated forms. The compound was developed in Japan in the early 20th century for nasal decongestion and later used in military contexts during World War II as a stimulant; postwar, illicit production expanded globally. The modern term “methamphetamine” became standard in pharmacology by the mid-20th century, distinguishing the more potent methylated version from its parent compound asper to supply legal medicinal uses in limited doses. First known uses appear in scientific literature in the 1920s–1930s, with regulation and criminalization increasing in the late 20th century as concerns about abuse, neurotoxicity, and addiction grew in medical and legal discourse.
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Words that rhyme with "Methamphetamine"
-ine sounds
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