5 syllables: Py, ra, zi, na, mide. Stress on ra.
peye-RAZ-in-uh-meyed
/paɪˈræzɪnəˌmaɪd/
Pyrazinamide is pronounced peye-RAZ-in-uh-meyed (/paɪˈræzɪnəˌmaɪd/). It has five syllables (Py-ra-zi-na-mide), with the stress on "ra". Pyrazinamide is a first-line anti-tuberculosis medication. Clinically, it is used in combination therapy to target Mycobacterium tuberculosis during the initial intensive phase, and it acts as a bacteriostatic agent that disrupts bacterial protein synthesis and energy metabolism. The term denotes the chemical class and drug name, with pronunciation distinct from its chemical roots rather than everyday usage.
nounPyrazinamide is a first-line anti-tuberculosis medication. Clinically, it is used in combination therapy to target Mycobacterium tuberculosis during the initial intensive phase, and it acts as a bacteriostatic agent that disrupts bacterial protein synthesis and energy metabolism. The term denotes the chemical class and drug name, with pronunciation distinct from its chemical roots rather than everyday usage.
"The patient was prescribed pyrazinamide as part of the standard TB treatment regimen."
"Researchers studied the pharmacokinetics of pyrazinamide to optimize dosing."
"The pharmacist explained potential liver-related side effects of pyrazinamide."
Pronunciation: /ˌpaɪˈræzɪˌnæmaɪd/ (US); /ˌpaɪˈræzɪnæmˌaɪd/ (UK/alternative). Stress typically falls on the second syllable cluster 'RAZ' with secondary weight on 'ni' before the final 'mide'. Start with 'py' like 'pi' in 'pine', then 'ra' as in 'rat', 'zi' as in 'zid', followed by 'na' and 'mide' sounding like 'myde'. Audio references: you can compare to standard drug-name pronunciations on Forvo or YouGlish using 'pyrazinamide'.
Common errors include: (1) misplacing stress, saying 'py-RA-zi-na-mid' or flattening to 'py-RAZ-i-nam-id'—keep the 'na' as a separate syllable before 'mide'. (2) Slurring the 'zi' into 'zi-na' as 'zih-nuh' instead of 'zi-na'. (3) Mispronouncing the final 'mide' as 'mid' or 'made'—the ending has a long 'i' and a soft 'd' ending, like 'myde'. Practice with phonetic cues: /ˌpaɪˈræzɪˌnæmaɪd/; mouth tip on the 'n' before 'aɪd' in 'mide'.
US pronunciation emphasizes the second syllable group 'RAZ' with strong 'ɪ' in 'zih', giving /ˌpaɪˈræzɪˌnæmaɪd/. UK and Australian variants often retain a similar pattern but may slightly reduce the 'ɪ' to a schwa in rapid speech, yielding /ˌpaɪˈræzənæmaɪd/ or /ˌpaɪˈræzɪnæməɪd/ depending on speaker. Overall rhoticity (US rhotic vs non-rhotic UK) affects the 'r' quality; US tends to retain a more pronounced 'r'. IPA references: US /ˌpaɪˈræzɪˌnæmaɪd/, UK /ˌpaɪˈræzɪnæmæd/ (varies).
The difficulty comes from the multi-syllabic chemical name with an unusual cluster: the 'pyra-' onset combined with 'z' sound in 'pyra-zi-', and the trailing '-mide' with long 'i' sound. The 'zi' is easy to misread as 'zai' vs 'zi'. The secondary stress pattern and need to pronounce a long final 'i' before 'd' can challenge non-specialists. Focusing on segmenting into syllables and aiming for /ˌpaɪˈræzɪˌnæmaɪd/ helps standardize across speakers and reduces mispronunciations.
There are no silent letters in the standard pronunciation, but you should watch the 'zi' cluster, which is not silent and should be voiced as /zɪ/ rather than a silent 'i'. The key tricky area is pronouncing the sequence 'ra-zi-na' clearly and not blending 'za' and 'zi' together. Practice the syllabic rhythm so each vowel is distinct: /paɪ/ /ˈræzɪ/ /ˌnæ/ /maɪd/. Keeping each vowel clear helps avoid slurring and ensures intelligibility in medical communication.
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Pyrazinamide derives from its chemical structure: 'pyrazine' refers to a six-membered ring with two adjacent nitrogens in the heterocycle, and the suffix '-amide' indicates an amide functional group connected to a pyrazine ring. The name suggests a pyrazinecarboxamide framework, reflecting its pharmaceutical origin in the early 1950s during TB drug development. The term likely entered English through medicinal chemistry literature, with the common abbreviation 'PZA' used in clinical settings. First known uses appear in mid-20th-century drug descriptions, then in pharmacology texts and clinical guidelines as TB treatment regimens evolved. The word’s pronunciation follows standard English stress patterns on py-RAZI-na-mide, aligning with other drug names that combine a heterocyclic core with an amide suffix, retaining distinctive syllables to aid recognition in medical communication.
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Words that rhyme with "Pyrazinamide"
-ide sounds
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