How to pronounce mercaptopurine
Say it like mer-kap-tuh-PYUUR-een. Mercaptopurine has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (PYUUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mercaptopurine. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- mer
- kap
- tuh
- PYUUR
- een
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mercaptopurine 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.
- kapGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- PYUURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
- eenGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of mercaptopurine
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: mur-kap-toh-PYOOR-een.
What does mercaptopurine mean?
- An thiol antimetabolite C₅H₄N₄S that interferes especially with the metabolism of purine bases and the biosynthesis of nucleic acids and that is sometimes used in the treatment of acute leukemia.
Where does mercaptopurine come from?
From mercapto- + purine.
Words that rhyme with mercaptopurine
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mercaptopurine.
Questions about saying mercaptopurine
How do you pronounce mercaptopurine?
Say mer-kap-tuh-PYUUR-een. The American pronunciation is /mɚˌkæptəˈpjʊˌrin/. In British English it is /mɜːˌkæptəʊˈpjʊəriːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mercaptopurine?
Mercaptopurine has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (PYUUR). Broken into parts: mer · kap · tuh · PYUUR · een.
Is mercaptopurine 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 /mɜːˌkæptəʊˈpjʊəriːn/ (mur-kap-toh-PYOOR-een).