3 syllables: Nal, trex, one. Stress on trex.
nal-TREK-sohn
/nælˈtrɛksoʊn/
Naltrexone is pronounced nal-TREK-sohn (/nælˈtrɛksoʊn/). It has three syllables (Nal-trex-one), with the stress on "trex". Naltrexone is a synthetic opioid antagonist used to block opioid receptors and reduce craving in addiction treatment. It is also studied for alcohol dependence and for reducing opioid withdrawal risk. The term combines root elements referencing its pharmacological action, with its modern pharmaceutical naming.
nounNaltrexone is a synthetic opioid antagonist used to block opioid receptors and reduce craving in addiction treatment. It is also studied for alcohol dependence and for reducing opioid withdrawal risk. The term combines root elements referencing its pharmacological action, with its modern pharmaceutical naming.
"The doctor prescribed naltrexone to support his recovery plan."
"Researchers are evaluating naltrexone’s efficacy in preventing relapse."
"Naltrexone can interfere with opioid analgesics if taken concurrently."
Pronounce it as /ˈnælˌtrɛkˌsoʊn/ (US) or /ˈnɑːlˌtrɛkˌsəʊn/ (UK) with primary stress on the first syllable ‘NAL-’, secondary on ‘TREK’, and the final ‘-one’ as a long ‘ohn’. Start with an open, short ‘a’ as in cat, then a clear ‘l’, followed by a crisp ‘trek’ with the ‘t’ released. End with a long ‘oh’ sound. If you’re uncertain, you can link it to “nal” + “trex” + “one.” Audio reference: use Pronounce or Forvo as a listening check.
Common mispronunciations include placing too much emphasis on the middle syllable or softening the final ‘one’ to resemble ‘an.’ Also, some speakers say ‘nal-TR-ex-oon’ or ‘nal-TRex-tone’ due to unfamiliarity with the ei/eo vowel sequence. Correction tips: keep the final vowel as a long ‘oh’ /oʊ/ with lips rounded; ensure the second syllable has a crisp /tr/ cluster with the /t/ release; stress remains on the first syllable, not the middle. Practice with the IPA model and minimal pairs to feel the rhythm.
US tends to value a slightly shorter second syllable with a clear /l/ and a more pronounced /ˌtrɛk/ cluster; UK often shows a marginally longer first vowel and a less rhotic 'r'-like quality in rapid speech, though in medical contexts rhotics are typically preserved. Australian accents generally maintain the /ˈnɔːlˌtrɛkˌsəʊn/ variant with a broad vowel in the first syllable and a clean /tr/ cluster, ending in /əʊn/. In all cases, the final /oʊn/ remains distinct; avoid conflating with /oʊn/ vs /əʊn/ where subtle vowel shifts occur.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /tr/ immediately after the stressed syllable, and the sequence /ɛk səʊ/ at the end where speakers can blur the mid vowels. The combination of /næl/ with /trɛk/ requires precise tongue-tension control and a clear release from /t/ into the /r/ blend, plus the final diphthong /oʊn/. For non-native speakers, the sequence ‘trex’ with a crisp /k/ before /s/ in some dialects adds another layer of precision, so practice the transition between the /l/ and /t/ and the ending /-səʊn/.
A distinctive feature is the hiatus-like transition between the /l/ and /t/ sounds in rapid speech, creating a short boundary that can be swallowed if you rush. Another is the tight, explosive release of /t/ into /r/ to form /ˌtr/ without a vowel between, which many learners drop to /trl/ or /tr/. Emphasize the separation: /næl/ + /ˌtrɛk/ + /soʊn/. Use a slow drill to identify the exact mouth positions for the alveolar trill-like blend rather than a quick sequence.
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Naltrexone derives from the drug’s pharmacological action and its chemical naming conventions. The prefix na- often marks a negation or structural modification in chemistry, while -ltrexone aligns with enantiomer-rich naming conventions used for opioid receptor ligands. The root -trex- echoes related compounds in the same class, and the suffix -one is common in pharmacology denoting ketone or related functional groups, adapted here to a receptor antagonist. First approvals occurred in the 1960s–1980s as medicinal chemistry expanded into receptor-targeted therapies, with the modern form of the name crystallizing by the late 20th century as naltrexone became a standard clinical term. The evolution reflects broader shifts from generic opioid antagonists to highly specific, medically supervised applications for addiction treatment and research. The term’s usage expanded from pure pharmacology to clinical guidelines as evidence accumulated about efficacy, dosing, and safety profiles in various patient populations.
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Words that rhyme with "Naltrexone"
-one sounds
-ion sounds
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