How to pronounce quinine
Say it like KWY-nyne. Quinine has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KWY).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce quinine. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/ˈkwaɪnaɪn/KWY-nyne
UK British/kwɪˈniːn/kwih-NEEN
- KWY
- nyne
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Quinine pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KWYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- nyneKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of quinine
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2.
British respelling: kwih-NEEN.
What does quinine mean?
noun
- An alkaloid with the chemical formula C₂₀H₂₄N₂O₂, originally derived from cinchona bark (from plants of the genus Cinchona), used to treat malaria and as an ingredient of tonic water, which presents as a bitter colorless powder; also, a drug containing quinine or a chemical compound derived from it
Where does quinine come from?
The verb is derived from the noun.
Questions about saying quinine
How do you pronounce quinine?
Say KWY-nyne. The American pronunciation is /ˈkwaɪnaɪn/. In British English it is /kwɪˈniːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in quinine?
Quinine has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KWY). Broken into parts: KWY · nyne.
Is quinine pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2. The British form is /kwɪˈniːn/ (kwih-NEEN).