How to pronounce tetracycline
Say it like tet-ruh-SY-kleen. Tetracycline has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tetracycline. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- tet
- ruh
- SY
- kleen
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tetracycline pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- tetGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- SYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- kleenKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of tetracycline
American and British speakers say tetracycline in essentially the same way: /ˌtɛtrəˈsaɪklin/ in the US and /ˌtɛtrəˈsaɪklin/ in the UK.
British respelling: tet-ruh-SY-kleen.
What does tetracycline mean?
- A yellow crystalline broad-spectrum antibiotic C₂₂H₂₄N₂O₈ produced by streptomyces or synthetically.
- Any of a large group of antibiotics with the same general structure derived from tetracene with many hydroxyl and other groups.
Where does tetracycline come from?
From tetracyclic + -ine.
Words that rhyme with tetracycline
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tetracycline.
Questions about saying tetracycline
How do you pronounce tetracycline?
Say tet-ruh-SY-kleen. The American pronunciation is /ˌtɛtrəˈsaɪklin/. In British English it is /ˌtɛtrəˈsaɪklin/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tetracycline?
Tetracycline has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SY). Broken into parts: tet · ruh · SY · kleen.
Do Americans and Brits say tetracycline the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌtɛtrəˈsaɪklin/ and the British form is /ˌtɛtrəˈsaɪklin/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.