Sulfonylureas are oral diabetes medications that stimulate insulin release from pancreatic beta cells. They belong to a class of sulfonyl compounds and are used to improve blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes. The term combines the chemical sulfonyl group with urea-like moieties, reflecting their molecular structure and pharmacological action.
"The clinician prescribed sulfonylureas to help manage her type 2 diabetes."
"Some patients experience hypoglycemia as a side effect of sulfonylureas."
"Researchers are studying the long-term outcomes of adjunctive sulfonylurea therapy."
"Generic sulfonylureas remain a cost-effective option in many healthcare systems."
Sulfonylureas derives from the chemical functional group sulfonyl (SO2NH2) combined with urea-like fragments, indicating sulfonamide-like sulfonyl and urea-derived components. The root sulfo- comes from sulfur-containing sulfonyl groups first named in organic chemistry in the 19th century, while -urea denotes the urea-like heterocycle or amidine-like moieties in several analogs. In medicine, the term began to appear in the mid-20th century as researchers developed oral hypoglycemic agents with sulfonamide backbones. Early sulfonylurea discoveries linked to stimulating pancreatic beta-cell insulin release, evolving from crude sulfonyl compounds to more selective, receptor-driven agents. First known use in pharmacology texts appears in the 1940s–1950s as drug chemists explored oral antihyperglycemic properties of sulfonylurea-like molecules, with practice expanding through the 1960s–1980s as specific drugs like tolbutamide, chlorpropamide, glyburide, and later glipizide and others entered clinical use.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Sulfonylureas" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Sulfonylureas" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Sulfonylureas" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Sulfonylureas"
-ria sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
/ˌsʌlˌfoʊˈnaɪljuːˌriːəz/ (US) or /ˌsʌlˈfəʊnɪlˌjuːˈriːəs/ (UK). The stress tends to fall on the third syllable: sul-fo-NY-lue-RAZ. Start with the 'sul' as in sulfa, then 'fo' as in fo, then 'ny' like 'nye', followed by 'lu' and 're-as' ending, with the final 'as' voiced. Mouth positions: start with a light s, rounded lips for 'oʊ', then a clear 'ny' palatal from tongue contact behind the alveolar ridge, then a light 'l' and a clear 'juː' glide into 'riːəz'. Audio reference: Pronounce resources or medical diction guides can provide a native-speaker audio example to verify the rhythm.
Common mistakes: misplacing the stress (leading to sul-fo-NY-looz) or conflating 'nyl' with 'ny' as in nylon. Also dropping the final -as or turning -ures into -yoo-ers. Correction: insist the trio of major segments: sul-fo-NY-lu-ree-ahs, with a clear 'ny' palatal onset and the final 'æz' or 'iːəz' depending on accent. Practice saying the middle 'ny' syllable with a quick palatal contact, keep the 'juː' as a brief glide to 'riːəz' for natural cadence.
US tends to a slightly stronger rhoticity with /r/ in 'riːəz' and a more pronounced 'oʊ' in 'foʊ'. UK often reduces the vowel in the first syllable and places emphasis slightly differently: /ˌsʌlˈfəʊnɪlˌjuːˈriːəz/. Australian tends to flatten some vowels and maintain non-rhoticity; final -as may be >= /əz/ or /iːəz/ with a softer 'r' sound. In all variants, the 'ny' cluster remains a palatal nasal with a clear 'ny' sound. Listen to native medical readers to calibrate the subtle vowel shifts.
It combines a long fronted 'sul-fo-' with the zippy 'ny' palatal segment and a multisyllabic ending '-ylureas' that many speakers mispronounce as '-you-rees' or '-yor-eas'. The challenge is maintaining the sequence sul-fo-NY-lu-RE-as with correct stress and rhythm, plus the 'nyl' cluster. The 'ny' sound requires a high front tongue position and precise airflow; the 'rea' or 'riːəz' ending needs a slow, accurate glide and final schwa or z depending on accent.
There are no silent letters in standard pronunciation, but the challenging cluster is 'nyl' followed by 'ureas', where the 'u' can be a quick 'juː' glide and the 'ea' can be elongated as 'iː' or a shorter /eə/ depending on accent. Some speakers reduce the 'ny' slightly when speaking quickly, which can blur the /nyl/ into /nl/. Always maintain a crisp 'ny' and avoid blending the final '-reas' into a single syllable. For clarity, isolate the 'nyl' and the 'u' before the 're'.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Sulfonylureas"!
No related words found
