4 syllables: Pra, zi, quan, tel. Stress on quan.
praz-ik-WAHN-tuhl
/præzɪˈkwɑntəl/
Praziquantel is pronounced praz-ik-WAHN-tuhl (/præzɪˈkwɑntəl/). It has four syllables (Pra-zi-quan-tel), with the stress on "quan". Praziquantel is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic medication used to treat parasitic worm infections, notably schistosomiasis and other intestinal fluke infections. It works by increasing the permeability of parasite cell membranes to calcium, causing spastic paralysis and death of susceptible worms. The term is commonly used in medical contexts and pharmacology.
nounPraziquantel is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic medication used to treat parasitic worm infections, notably schistosomiasis and other intestinal fluke infections. It works by increasing the permeability of parasite cell membranes to calcium, causing spastic paralysis and death of susceptible worms. The term is commonly used in medical contexts and pharmacology.
"The patient was prescribed praziquantel to eradicate the schistosomiasis infection."
"Researchers evaluated praziquantel in combination therapy for helminthic diseases."
"The clinical protocol specifies a single dose of praziquantel at 40 mg/kg."
Pronounce as /ˌpra-zi-ˈkwin-təl/ in US/UK/AU. Break it into four syllables: pra-zi-quin-tel, with primary stress on the third syllable ‘quin’ (kwin). Audio references like medical pronunciation resources or Forvo can help confirm the /ˌpra-zi-ˈkwin-təl/ rhythm. Practice by enunciating slowly: PRA-zi-KWIN-tel, then accelerate while keeping the /kwɪn/ cluster clear and the final -tel soft.
Two common errors: (1) misplacing stress, saying pra-zi-QUIN-tel with the stress on the wrong syllable; (2) slurring the /kwɪn/ into /kwɪn/ or mispronouncing the final -tel as a hard 'tell' rather than 'tel' with a short e. Correction: stress the third syllable as QUIN, keep the /kwɪn/ cluster clear, and end with a light, unstressed 'tel' (/təl/). Regularly practice with slow-to-normal pace and record yourself.
In US/UK/AU, the core pronunciation is /ˌpra-zi-ˈkwin-təl/. The main differences lie in the rhoticity and vowel quality: US is rhotic, with an audible r colors preceding the schwa; UK often has non-rhotic tendencies in careful speech, affecting consonant blending around the /ˈkwɪn/ portion; AU follows similar patterns to UK but may be a touch more clipped in rapid medical diction. Overall, the stressed /kwin/ remains consistent across accents.
Key challenges include the /ˈkwɪn/ syllable with the /kw/ onset and the subtle reduction of the final syllable /təl/ to a light, quick /təl/. The sequence pra- (with an unstressed first syllable) can lead to misplacing stress. The combination of LIQUID-like /zi/ and the consonant cluster makes it easy to mispronounce as pra-zI-quan-tel or pra-zi-QUIN-tell. Focus on breaking into four even syllables and emphasize the central /kwɪn/.
A unique aspect is the /zɪ/ sequence after the initial /pr/. Some speakers misplace the /z/ or merge /zi/ with /ˈkwɪn/; slow, deliberate articulation of pra-zi-QUIN-tel helps. The second syllable carries light schwa-like quality; maintain clarity of /zi/ as a distinct syllable before the /kwin/. Also practice the transition into the /t/ in the final syllable, avoiding a prolonged /-tel-/.
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US: rhotic pronunciation; allow the initial /pr/ cluster to be clean, with a slightly longer /æ/ in the first syllable. UK: less rhotic influence in careful speech; stress on QUIN remains. AU: tends toward crisp consonant delivery; avoid over-enunciating the final vowel. IPA anchors: US/UK/AU /ˌpra-zi-ˈkwɪn-təl/; note /ə/ reductions in unstressed positions and /kw/ consonant blend.
Praziquantel is derived from the combination of roots that reflect its pharmacological action and chemical structure. The prefix praz- likely derives from the German/Latinized roots seen in earlier anthelmintics, with the -iquantel suffix aligning to many synthetic anthelmintics in the late 20th century. The exact origin of the term is tied to marketing and discovery in the 1960s–1980s by pharmaceutical developers seeking compounds effective against schistosome infections. The first known uses appeared in medical literature by the 1970s as researchers identified potent activity against broad classes of flatworms. Over time, praziquantel became the standard with well-documented dosing regimens and safety profiles in parasitology guidelines, cementing its place in global antiparasitic therapy.
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Words that rhyme with "Praziquantel"
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