How to pronounce acupuncture
Say it like AK-yoo-puhngk-cher. Acupuncture has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce acupuncture. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AK
- yoo
- puhngk
- cher
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Acupuncture pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- AKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- yooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- puhngkGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- cherKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of acupuncture
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: AK-yoo-puhngk-chur.
What does acupuncture mean?
- The insertion of needles into the (living) tissue of the body affecting the Qi or energy along energetic pathways of the body called meridians. This modality is traditionally used as a form of internal medical treating all disease and illnesses, in Western countries it is widely used for the purpose
- To treat with acupuncture.
Where does acupuncture come from?
Learned borrowing from New Latin acūpūnctūra, from Latin acus + pūnctūra.
Questions about saying acupuncture
How do you pronounce acupuncture?
Say AK-yoo-puhngk-cher. The American pronunciation is /ˈækjuˌpʌŋktʃɚ/. In British English it is /ˈækjuˌpʌŋktʃɝ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in acupuncture?
Acupuncture has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AK). Broken into parts: AK · yoo · puhngk · cher.
Is acupuncture pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈækjuˌpʌŋktʃɝ/ (AK-yoo-puhngk-chur).