How to Pronounce Melatonin
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Melatonin Pronunciation
mel-a-TOH-nin
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
mel
a
TOH
stress here
nin
4 syllables
What is Melatonin?
A hormone naturally produced by the pineal gland in the brain that helps regulate the body's sleep-wake cycle, also known as the circadian rhythm. It is released in response to darkness and signals to the body that it is time to sleep. Melatonin is also available as an over-the-counter supplement used to help with sleep problems such as insomnia or jet lag.
Questions About Melatonin
How do you pronounce melatonin?
+
Melatonin is pronounced mel-a-TOH-nin. Break it into four syllables: mel (rhymes with "bell"), a (sounds like the letter "A"), TOH (rhymes with "go"), and nin (rhymes with "pin"). The stress falls on the third syllable, so you say it a bit louder and longer: mel-a-TOH-nin.
What syllable do I stress when saying melatonin?
+
The stressed syllable is TOH, which is the third syllable. A common mistake is stressing the first syllable and saying MEL-a-tonin instead of mel-a-TOH-nin. Remember: the TOH should be the loudest and longest part of the word.
What are common mispronunciations of melatonin?
+
People often say mel-a-TON-in (rhyming TON with "on") instead of the correct mel-a-TOH-nin (with the OH sound). Another mistake is stressing the wrong syllable, like MEL-a-tonin. The correct way emphasizes that TOH sound in the middle: mel-a-TOH-nin.
How do you break melatonin into syllables?
+
Melatonin breaks into four syllables: mel-a-TOH-nin. This four-part breakdown makes it easier to pronounce slowly and carefully.
Can you use melatonin in a sentence?
+
Sure! Here's an example: "The pharmacist explained how to pronounce melatonin when I picked up my prescription." Or: "Do you know how to say melatonin correctly—mel-a-TOH-nin?"
Is melatonin ever shortened or abbreviated?
+
Melatonin is sometimes abbreviated as MLT in medical writing, but in everyday conversation, people usually say the full word melatonin (mel-a-TOH-nin). You'll rarely hear the abbreviation spoken aloud.