How to pronounce phenylalanine
Say it like fee-nuh-LAL-uh-neen. Phenylalanine has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LAL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce phenylalanine. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- fee
- nuh
- LAL
- uh
- neen
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Phenylalanine pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- feeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LALSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- neenKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of phenylalanine
American and British speakers say phenylalanine in essentially the same way: /ˌfinəˈlælənin/ in the US and /ˌfiːnəˈlælənin/ in the UK.
British respelling: fee-nuh-LAL-uh-neen.
What does phenylalanine mean?
- An essential amino acid C₉H₁₁NO₂ found in most animal proteins; it is essential for growth; the inability to metabolize it leads to phenylketonuria; it is a constituent of aspartame.
- This molecule or its D-isomer.
Where does phenylalanine come from?
From phenyl + alanine.
Questions about saying phenylalanine
How do you pronounce phenylalanine?
Say fee-nuh-LAL-uh-neen. The American pronunciation is /ˌfinəˈlælənin/. In British English it is /ˌfiːnəˈlælənin/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in phenylalanine?
Phenylalanine has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LAL). Broken into parts: fee · nuh · LAL · uh · neen.
Do Americans and Brits say phenylalanine the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌfinəˈlælənin/ and the British form is /ˌfiːnəˈlælənin/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.