2 syllables: ta, crine. Stress on ta.
TAK-reen
/ˈtækriːn/
tacrine is pronounced TAK-reen (/ˈtækriːn/). It has two syllables (ta-crine), with the stress on "ta". Tacrine is a cholinesterase inhibitor formerly used to treat Alzheimer’s disease; it was one of the first such drugs introduced but has largely been replaced by safer alternatives. In pharmacology discussions it is primarily encountered as a compound name rather than a common vocabulary term. The word itself is a technical name derived from chemical nomenclature rather than everyday usage.
Tacrine is a cholinesterase inhibitor formerly used to treat Alzheimer’s disease; it was one of the first such drugs introduced but has largely been replaced by safer alternatives. In pharmacology discussions it is primarily encountered as a compound name rather than a common vocabulary term. The word itself is a technical name derived from chemical nomenclature rather than everyday usage.
- You might misplace stress on the first syllable (ta-CRINE). Focus on keeping the second syllable prominent: /təˈkrin/ (US) or /təˈkriːn/ (UK/AU).- Some speakers shorten the final vowel, giving /təˈkrɪn/ instead of /təˈkriːn/. Practice elongating the final /iː/ to avoid a clipped ending. - The /kr/ cluster can blur if you don’t articulate the /k/ and /r/ together; keep a crisp /k/ release immediately into /r/.- Don’t reduce the initial schwa too much; keep it light but distinct so the word’s rhythm remains clear.
"The clinical trial compared tacrine with newer acetylcholinesterase inhibitors."
"Researchers cited tacrine’s hepatotoxicity as a limiting factor in its adoption."
"Tacrine was withdrawn from many markets as safer drugs became available."
Pronounce tacrine as /təˈkrin/ (US) or /təˈkriːn/ (UK/AU). The primary stress is on the second syllable: ta-CRINE. Start with a light schwa /tə/, then a clear /ˈkr/ cluster, followed by a long vowel /iː/ or /iːn/. Tip: end with a short, clean n. Audio references: you can compare with medical diction resources or Forvo pronunciation entries; hearing the two-part stress helps you align the rhythm for scientific text.
Common errors include misplacing the stress on the first syllable (ta-CRINE vs Ta-CRINE) and shortening the final vowel, producing /təˈkrɪn/ instead of /təˈkriːn/. Another frequent mistake is blending the /kr/ consonant cluster too loosely, making it sound like /tkrin/ or /tækrin/. Correction: keep the /kr/ together with a clear, high-front vowel in the final syllable; use a longer /iː/ to reach /riːn/ or /rin/ with final /n/. Practice with minimal pairs to solidify the /k/ + /r/ sequence and the length of the final vowel.
In US English, tacrine is /təˈkrin/ with a schwa initial and a stressed /krin/. In UK English, it tends to be /təˈkriːn/ with a longer /iː/ in the final syllable and less vowel reduction. Australian English aligns closely with UK, but you may hear a slightly more centralized vowel in the first syllable and a crisp /n/ at the end. Across all, the main variation is final vowel length and rhotacization is not a factor since /ɹ/ is not strongly rhotic in many contexts. Use IPA and listen to medical diction sources for precise comparisons.
Two main challenges: the hard /kr/ cluster in the middle and maintaining a long, pure /iː/ (or /i/) in the final syllable without truncation. The /ə/ onset is light, so attention to weak syllable reduction is needed. Additionally, since tacrine is a technical chemical/drug name, it’s less familiar, so you might default to an unfamiliar rhythm or misplace the stress. Practice with slow repetitions, emphasizing the /kr/ blend and finishing with a precise /iːn/ sound.
A distinctive feature is the clear, high-front quality of the /riːn/ portion when using /-rine/ in final syllable, which can be mistaken as /rɪn/ if not careful. Ensuring the central /r/ is not dropped and the /iː/ is held slightly longer than a typical short /ɪ/ helps distinguish tacrine from similar-looking words like ‘tacrin’ or ‘tacrine’ misreadings. Emphasize the second syllable’s /kr/ cluster and long vowel in the final syllable for accuracy.
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- US: /təˈkrɪn/ or /təˈkrin/? More commonly /təˈkrin/ with a short final vowel; ensure the /ɹ/ is softer in postvocalic position; non-rhotic tendencies are rare in medical diction, so you may hear a faint rhotic sound. - UK: /təˈkriːn/ with a longer final vowel; the /ɹ/ is less perceived, and the final vowel is steadier, often unreduced in careful speech. - AU: /təˈkriːn/ tends toward UK style but with slightly flatter vowel quality; maintain the final /iːn/ and release the tongue for a clean /n/. IPA notes: US /təˈkrɪn/ or /təˈkrin/, UK/AU /təˈkriːn/. - Key contrasts: rhoticity is minimal in UK pronunciation; final vowel length is the main differentiator. - Practice using minimal pairs to fix vowel length: /krin/ vs /kriːn/.
Tacrine derives from the chemical nomenclature of acridine derivatives. The prefix ‘tac-’ is a conventional shortening used in some heterocyclic naming schemes, while ‘-rine’ is a common suffix in organic chemistry for amine-containing molecules. Scientifically, the name reflects a tricyclic acridine framework modified with amine groups. The first uses of tacrine as a drug date to the 1970s–1980s, when researchers explored cholinesterase inhibition as a strategy to combat neurodegenerative symptoms. Its discovery and naming followed standard pharmaceutical nomenclature practices rather than everyday language, and the word has remained specialized within pharmacology and medicinal chemistry literature. The term gained prominence in clinical pharmacology during early Alzheimer’s disease research, where tacrine represented a pioneering, albeit hepatotoxic, therapeutic option. First documented scientific references appear in chemical databases and pharmacology journals from the late 1970s to early 1980s, with subsequent reviews detailing its mechanistic role and safety concerns. The name itself has since become a historical marker in the evolution of Alzheimer’s therapeutics, used primarily in technical contexts rather than common discourse.
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Words that rhyme with "tacrine"
-ain sounds
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