How to Pronounce “paracetamol”

American (US)

/ˌpɛɹ.əˈsiː.təˌmɔl/

British (UK)

/ˌpæ.ɹəˈsɛt.əm.ɒl/

noun — A synthetic compound used as a drug to relieve and reduce fever, usually taken in tablet form.

Where the stress falls. “paracetamol” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /ˌpɛɹ.əˈsiː.təˌmɔl/ 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. /ˌpɛɹ.əˈsiː.təˌmɔl/ 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 "paracetamol" mean?

paracetamol (noun): A synthetic compound used as a drug to relieve and reduce fever, usually taken in tablet form.

How do you pronounce "paracetamol" in American vs British English?

American English: /ˌpɛɹ.əˈsiː.təˌmɔl/. British English: /ˌpæ.ɹəˈsɛt.əm.ɒl/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "paracetamol"?

/ˌpɛɹ.əˈsiː.təˌmɔl/ in American English, /ˌpæ.ɹəˈsɛt.əm.ɒl/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "paracetamol"?

“paracetamol” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /ˌpɛɹ.əˈsiː.təˌmɔl/ 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.