How to Pronounce “ciprofloxacin”

American (US)

/ˌsɪp.ɹəˈflɑk.səs.ɪn/

noun — A broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic C17H18FN3O3 that is often administered in the form of its hydrochloride C17H18FN3O3·HCl and is effective especially against gram-negative bacteria.

Where the stress falls. “ciprofloxacin” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /ˌsɪp.ɹəˈflɑk.səs.ɪn/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˌsɪp.ɹəˈflɑk.səs.ɪn/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "ciprofloxacin" mean?

ciprofloxacin (noun): A broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic C17H18FN3O3 that is often administered in the form of its hydrochloride C17H18FN3O3·HCl and is effective especially against gram-negative bacteria.

What is the IPA transcription of "ciprofloxacin"?

/ˌsɪp.ɹəˈflɑk.səs.ɪn/ in American English.

Which syllable is stressed in "ciprofloxacin"?

“ciprofloxacin” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /ˌsɪp.ɹəˈflɑk.səs.ɪn/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.