4 syllables: Tem, a, ze, pam. Stress on ze.
tem-uh-ZEP-am
/tɛm.əˈzɛpæm/
Temazepam is pronounced tem-uh-ZEP-am (/tɛm.əˈzɛpæm/). It has four syllables (Tem-a-ze-pam), with the stress on "ze". Temazepam is a long-used prescription benzodiazepine tranquilizer primarily prescribed for short-term treatment of insomnia and anxiety. It enhances the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA, producing sedative, anxiolytic, and muscle-relaxant effects. Used under medical supervision, it carries potential for dependence and withdrawal, and is metabolized in the liver with a half-life that supports short-term use.
nounTemazepam is a long-used prescription benzodiazepine tranquilizer primarily prescribed for short-term treatment of insomnia and anxiety. It enhances the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA, producing sedative, anxiolytic, and muscle-relaxant effects. Used under medical supervision, it carries potential for dependence and withdrawal, and is metabolized in the liver with a half-life that supports short-term use.
How to Pronounce Temazepam
"Temazepam was prescribed to help her sleep after the recent round of stress."
"The doctor advised a minimal dose of temazepam for sleep onset when other methods failed."
"She reported improved sleep quality after taking temazepam for a week."
Pronounce temazepam as /ˌtɛm.əˈzɛ.pæm/. The primary stress falls on the third syllable, with a secondary stress on the first in some accents. Start with /t/ followed by a quick, light /ɛ/ vowel, then /mə/ with a schwa-ish second syllable, then /ˈzɛ/ with /ɛ/ like “bet,” and finish with /pæm/ where /p/ is released and /æ/ is the short “a” as in “cat,” ending with /m/. Audio references include standard US/UK pronunciation resources.
Common errors include over-suppressing the second syllable so it sounds like tem-a-ZE-pam, misplacing the stress on the first syllable, or blending /z/ with /s/ leading to tem-AZ-uh-pam. To correct: keep the primary stress on the third syllable (/ˈzɛ/), pronounce /ə/ as a short, neutral schwa, and articulate /pæm/ with a crisp /p/ release and clear /æ/ vowel. Practicing the sequence /tɛm.əˈzɛ.pæm/ helps maintain accurate rhythm.
In US English, you’ll likely hear /ˌtɛm.əˈzɛ.pæm/ with a less pronounced middle vowel and a rhotic accent affecting the overall rhythm. UK English tends to place more weight on the third syllable with a slightly longer /ˈzɛ/ and a non-rhotic flow; the final /m/ remains. Australian pronunciation is similar to UK but often features a more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and subtle vowel quality shifts. Across all, the key is stress placement on /ˈzɛ/ and crisp /pæm/.
The difficulty centers on the multi-syllabic structure and the cluster /zɛ/ in the third syllable along with the final /pæm/ consonant combination. Non-native speakers may misplace stress or gloss over the schwa in the second syllable, causing an irregular rhythm. The instruction is to segment as tem-ə-ˈze-pam, with clear articulation of /z/ and the short, lax /æ/ in the final syllable. Paying attention to the voicing and release of /p/ helps avoid trailing muffled consonants.
Temazepam has a characteristic strong stress on the third syllable with a clear /z/ onset in that stressed syllable and a short /æ/ at the end. The middle vowel /ə/ is often almost schwa-like, requiring a relaxed jaw. Its phonemic sequence /tɛm.əˈzɛ.pæm/ makes it relatively easier for fluent speakers when practiced in chunks, but beginners frequently misplace the stress or blur the /z/ sound, blending it with /s/ or /zh/ in casual speech.
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Temazepam derives from a combination of roots reflecting its pharmacology and chemical naming conventions. The final -zepam aligns with the benzodiazepine class name, itself a contraction of “benzene” plus “diazepine.” The prefix tem- in temazepam is a coined syllable used in pharmaceutical naming to distinguish the molecule. The term first appeared in mid-20th century pharmacology as synthetic benzodiazepines were developed for improved anxiolytic and hypnotic properties. Early benzodiazepines like chlordiazepoxide (Librium, 1960) set the stage for a naming scheme that combined distinctive syllables with the -zepam ending, which was standardized to identify a subfamily of diazepine ring compounds. Temazepam specifically was developed to provide hypnotic effects with relatively rapid onset and longer duration than some earlier agents, and it entered widespread medical use in the 1960s–1980s as a safer alternative for insomnia management, though with recognition of dependence risks and withdrawal potential that have shaped regulatory guidelines and prescribing practices. Over time, temazepam has appeared in pharmacopoeias and clinical guidelines worldwide, with usage debates focusing on short-term efficacy versus risks of tolerance, cognitive impairment, and next-morning sedation. Contemporary discussions emphasize careful patient selection, dose minimization, and monitoring for misuse, aided by pharmacovigilance databases and evolving recommendations for benzodiazepine stewardship.
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Words that rhyme with "Temazepam"
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