How to pronounce mercaptan
Say it like mer-KAP-tun. Mercaptan has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mercaptan. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- mer
- KAP
- tun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mercaptan pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- merKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- KAPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- tunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of mercaptan
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: muh-KAP-tun.
What does mercaptan mean?
- Any of a class of organic compounds of sulfur, ( R-SH ) where R represents an alkyl or other organic substituent. They tend to be foul-smelling. They are also termed thiols or thioalcohols.
Where does mercaptan come from?
Borrowed from German Mercaptan, from Danish mercaptan; coined by organic chemist William Christopher Zeise in 1832 from mer(curius) (“mercury”) + captan(s) (“capturing”), because the thiolate group bonds very strongly with mercury compounds.
Words that rhyme with mercaptan
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mercaptan.
Questions about saying mercaptan
How do you pronounce mercaptan?
Say mer-KAP-tun. The American pronunciation is /mɚˈkæptən/. In British English it is /məˈkæptən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mercaptan?
Mercaptan has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAP). Broken into parts: mer · KAP · tun.
Is mercaptan 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 /məˈkæptən/ (muh-KAP-tun).