How to pronounce medicine
Say it like MED-uh-sun. Medicine has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MED).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce medicine. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MED
- uh
- sun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Medicine pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MEDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- sunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of medicine
American and British speakers say medicine in essentially the same way: /ˈmɛdəsən/ in the US and /ˈmɛdɪsɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: MED-ih-sin.
What does medicine mean?
- the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques
- (medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease
- the learned profession that is mastered by graduate training in a medical school and that is devoted to preventing or alleviating or curing diseases and injuries“he studied medicine at Harvard”
- treat medicinally, treat with medicine
Where does medicine come from?
From Middle English medicin, from Middle French medicine, from Old French medecine, from Latin medicīna (“the healing art, medicine, a physician's shop, a remedy, medicine”), feminine of medicīnus (“of or belonging to physic or surgery, or
Questions about saying medicine
How do you pronounce medicine?
Say MED-uh-sun. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɛdəsən/. In British English it is /ˈmɛdɪsɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in medicine?
Medicine has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MED). Broken into parts: MED · uh · sun.
Do Americans and Brits say medicine the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmɛdəsən/ and the British form is /ˈmɛdɪsɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.