In this episode, I divide Suboxone, buprenorphine, and naloxone into syllables, tell you which syllables to emphasize, and share my sources. As a bonus, I share my Suboxone mispronunciation from ~2002. The written pronunciations are below and in the show notes on https://www.thepharmacistsvoice.com/podcast.

 

Note: we don't cover pharmacology in this series. Just pronunciations. The FULL show notes are available at https://www.thepharmacistsvoice.com/podcast. 

 

Suboxone = sub-OX-own

• Emphasize the second syllable, OX (which sounds like "BOX" when you say Suboxone fast)
• Sources: For the written pronunciation, read the medication guide for Suboxone https://www.suboxone.com/pdfs/medication-guide.pdf. Spoken pronunciations - google.com, m-w.com, or drugs.com.

 

buprenorphine = byoo pre NOR feen

• Emphasize NOR 
• Sources: Written - medlineplus.gov. Spoken - google.com, m-w.com, or drugs.com 

 

naloxone = nal-OX-one 

• Emphasize OX (which sounds like "LOX" when you say naloxone fast)
• Sources: Written - medlineplus.gov. Spoken - google.com, m-w.com, or drugs.com 

 

Thank for listening to the 59th episode in my drug pronunciation series!

 

If you'd like to recommend a drug name for this series, please reach out through the contact form on my website, thepharmacistsvoice.com.

 

If you know someone who would like to learn how to say Suboxone, buprenorphine, or naloxone, please share this episode with them. Subscribe for all future episodes. This podcast is on all major podcast players and YouTube. Popular links are below. ⬇️

 

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Host Background: Kim Newlove has been an Ohio pharmacist since 2001 (BS Pharm, Chem Minor). Her experience includes hospital, retail, compounding, and behavioral health. She is also an author, voice actor (medical narrator and audiobook narrator), podcast host, and consultant (audio production and podcasting). 

 

Links for this episode

• Suboxone written pronunciation (accessed July 17, 2025) https://www.suboxone.com/pdfs/medication-guide.pdf 
• Buprenorphine written pronunciation (accessed July 17, 2025) https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a605002.html
• Naloxone written pronunciation (accessed July 17, 2025) https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a616003.html 
• Spoken pronunciations for all three drug names today: google.com, m-w.com, and drugs.com
• Note: I was unable to find the written pronunciations for buprenorphine and naloxone in the USP Dictionary Online. The USP Dictionary Online is my go-to resource for written generic drug pronunciations. 

 

Other episodes in this series

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 337, Pronunciation Series Episode 58 (rosuvastatin) 

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 335, Pronunciation Series Episode 57 (QVAR)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 333, Pronunciation Series Episode 56 (pantoprazole) 

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 330, Pronunciation Series Episode 55 (oxcarbazepine)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 328, Pronunciation Series Episode 54 (nalmefene)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 326, Pronunciation Series Episode 53 (Myrbetriq)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 324, Pronunciation Series Episode 52 (liraglutide) 

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 322, Pronunciation Series Episode 51 (ketamine)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 320, Pronunciation Series Episode 50 (Jantoven)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 318, Pronunciation Series Episode 49 (ipratropium)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 316, Pronunciation Series Episode 48 (hyoscyamine)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 313, Pronunciation Series Episode 47 (guaifenesin)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 311, Pronunciation Series Episode 46 (fluticasone)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 309, Pronunciation Series Episode 45 (empagliflozin)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 307, Pronunciation Series Episode 44 (dapagliflozin)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 304, Pronunciation Series Episode 43 (cetirizine) 

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 302, Pronunciation Series Episode 42 (buspirone) 

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 301, Pronunciation Series Episode 41 (azithromycin)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 298, Pronunciation Series Episode 40 (umeclidinium)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 296, Pronunciation Series Episode 39 (Januvia) 

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 294, Pronunciation Series Episode 38 (Yasmin)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 292, Pronunciation Series Episode 37 (Xanax, alprazolam)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 290, Pronunciation Series Episode 36 (quetiapine) 

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 287, pronunciation series ep 35 (bupropion)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 285, pronunciation series ep 34 (fentanyl)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Ep 281, Pronunciation Series Ep 33 levothyroxine (Synthroid)

The Pharmacist's Voice ® Podcast Ep 278, Pronunciation Series Ep 32 ondansetron (Zofran)

The Pharmacist's Voice ® Podcast Episode 276, pronunciation series episode 31 (tocilizumab-aazg)

The Pharmacist's Voice ® Podcast Episode 274, pronunciation series episode 30 (citalopram and escitalopram)

The Pharmacist's Voice ® Podcast Episode 272, pronunciation series episode 29 (losartan)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 269, pronunciation series episode 28 (tirzepatide)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 267, pronunciation series episode 27 (atorvastatin) 

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 265, pronunciation series episode 26 (omeprazole)

The Pharmacist's Voice Podcast Episode 263, pronunciation series episode 25 (PDE-5 inhibitors)<