How to pronounce penicillin
Say it like pen-uh-SIL-un. Penicillin has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce penicillin. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pen
- uh
- SIL
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Penicillin pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- penGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- SILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of penicillin
American and British speakers say penicillin in essentially the same way: /ˌpɛnəˈsɪlən/ in the US and /ˌpɛnəˈsɪlən/ in the UK.
British respelling: pen-uh-SIL-un.
What does penicillin mean?
- Any of a group of narrow-spectrum antibiotics obtained from Penicillium molds or synthesized, that have a beta-lactam structure and are active against gram-positive bacteria and used in the treatment of various infections and diseases.
- A blue mold of the genus Penicillium that produces penicillin.
Where does penicillin come from?
From translingual Penicillium + -in.
Words that rhyme with penicillin
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of penicillin.
Questions about saying penicillin
How do you pronounce penicillin?
Say pen-uh-SIL-un. The American pronunciation is /ˌpɛnəˈsɪlən/. In British English it is /ˌpɛnəˈsɪlən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in penicillin?
Penicillin has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SIL). Broken into parts: pen · uh · SIL · un.
Do Americans and Brits say penicillin the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌpɛnəˈsɪlən/ and the British form is /ˌpɛnəˈsɪlən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.