3 syllables: ni, co, tine. Stress on ni.
NIK-uh-teen
/ˈnɪkəˌtin/
nicotine is pronounced NIK-uh-teen (/ˈnɪkəˌtin/). It has three syllables (ni-co-tine), with the stress on "ni". Nicotine is a potent, colorless to pale yellow liquid alkaloid and stimulant found chiefly in tobacco products. It acts on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, producing both stimulant and addictive effects. In everyday language, it refers to the addictive substance in cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products, as well as synthetic forms used in research and nicotine replacement therapies.
Nicotine is a potent, colorless to pale yellow liquid alkaloid and stimulant found chiefly in tobacco products. It acts on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, producing both stimulant and addictive effects. In everyday language, it refers to the addictive substance in cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products, as well as synthetic forms used in research and nicotine replacement therapies.
- Misplacing the primary stress on the second syllable (ni-KO-tine). TIP: keep primary stress on the first syllable and treat the middle as a light bridge. - Over-shortening the final -ine to /-in/ or /-ən/; TIP: end with a full /iːn/ by prolonging the final vowel just a beat longer. - Blurring the middle /ə/ with /ɪ/; TIP: gently separate /k/ and the schwa to ensure the /kə/ is heard.
"Cigarettes contain nicotine, which can keep you coming back for more."
"The physician advised reducing nicotine intake to manage withdrawal symptoms."
"Nicotine replacement therapy can help some people quit smoking."
You pronounce it as /ˈnɪkəˌtiːn/ (US/UK). The primary stress is on the first syllable, with a secondary stress on the third syllable in many fast pronunciations. The first syllable uses the short i vowel as in 'kit,' the second syllable has a schwa (ə), and the final syllable has a long e as in 'teen.' Think: NIC-o-teen. In careful speech, each vowel is clear; in rapid speech, the middle vowel may be more reduced, but the /tiːn/ ending remains recognizable.
Two common errors are misplacing stress (saying ni-KO-tine) and shortening the final vowel (saying /-tɪn/ instead of /-tiːn/). Also, some speakers blur the middle syllable into a quick /ə/ or omit the second vowel, yielding /ˈnɪkɪn/ or /ˈnɪkətn/. To correct: emphasize the first syllable with a crisp /ɪ/ vowel, maintain a clear /tiːn/ at the end, and keep the middle syllable as a light /ə/ rather than dropping it entirely.
In US and UK, nicotine is /ˈnɪkəˌtiːn/. US tends toward a slightly tighter /ˈnɪkəˌtiːn/ with a slightly faster middle vowel; UK often keeps a fuller /ɪ/ in the first vowel and clear /tiːn/. Australian English is similar to UK but may show a small vowel shift in the first /ɪ/ and a less pronounced final /iːn/ depending on speaker. Overall, all share the /ˈnɪkəˌtiːn/ skeleton; small vowel length and quality variations occur regionally.
The difficulty lies in the two unstressed vowels surrounding a stressed first syllable and the long final /iːn/ that can blend with neighboring sounds in fast speech. The /ˈnɪkə/ sequence requires a subtle schwa vs. a short /ɪ/ in some speakers, and the /tiːn/ ending demands a precise long /iː/ and final nasal. For non-native speakers, the cluster /k/ followed by /ə/ can be tricky if your language doesn’t have a similar rhythm or a shiff between consonants. Practicing the two-step rhythm helps establish the timing.
The word has a clear, three-syllable rhythm with a strong first-stress pattern and a smooth transition from /k/ to /ə/ to /tiːn/. The middle schwa often reduces, but its presence helps avoid blending into /nɪkˈtiːn/ or /ˈnɪkətɪn/. Paying attention to the /k/ release before the vowel helps avoid a clipped or rushed middle syllable; you’ll hear a defined /kə/ before the /tiːn/.
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- US: use a slightly tighter vowel in /ɪ/ and a crisp /tiːn/ ending; rhotic speakers should ensure the following word doesn’t elide the /r/ affecting nicotine’s rhythm. - UK: keep the middle schwa light but audible, and emphasize the final /iːn/; non-rhotic speakers still retain the /n/ ending clearly. - AU: similar to UK but with a slightly shorter final /iːn/ in casual speech; maintain the middle /ə/ softly to avoid a staccato sequence. Use IPA cues and slow practice to stabilize.
The word nicotine comes from nicotine, the name given to the alkaloid by German chemist Wilhelm Heinrich Escherich in 1828, derived from the tobacco plant genus Nicotiana, named after Jean Nicot, the French ambassador who popularized tobacco in the 16th century. The term was coined as scientists isolated the alkaloid from the plant, identifying its chemical structure and pharmacological effects. Early 19th-century pharmacologists documented nicotine’s stimulant properties and addictive potential, which evolved into modern understandings of receptor activity (particularly nicotinic acetylcholine receptors) and dependence. Over time, nicotine expanded beyond tobacco to synthetic formulations and nicotine replacement therapies, but the core association with tobacco products remains central to its etymology and public understanding. First known use in English in the 1830s–1840s as a plant-derived alkaloid name, formalized in scientific literature by the mid-19th century as tobacco research advanced. The modern sense of nicotine as a principal addictive component of tobacco products solidified in the 20th century with epidemiological research and pharmacological characterizations that linked nicotine exposure to dependence and withdrawal phenomena.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "nicotine" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "nicotine"
-ine sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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