How to pronounce nicotine
Say it like NIK-uh-teen. Nicotine has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NIK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce nicotine. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NIK
- uh
- teen
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nicotine pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NIKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- teenGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of nicotine
American and British speakers say nicotine in essentially the same way: /ˈnɪkəˌtin/ in the US and /ˈnɪkəˌtiːn/ in the UK.
British respelling: NIK-uh-teen.
What does nicotine mean?
- an alkaloid poison that occurs in tobacco; used in medicine and as an insecticide
Where does nicotine come from?
Borrowed from French nicotine, equivalent to Nicot + -ine, named after Jean Nicot (1530–1604), the French ambassador to Portugal, who sent tobacco seeds back to France in 1561.
Questions about saying nicotine
How do you pronounce nicotine?
Say NIK-uh-teen. The American pronunciation is /ˈnɪkəˌtin/. In British English it is /ˈnɪkəˌtiːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in nicotine?
Nicotine has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NIK). Broken into parts: NIK · uh · teen.
Do Americans and Brits say nicotine the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈnɪkəˌtin/ and the British form is /ˈnɪkəˌtiːn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.