How do you say QVAR? (Pronunciation Series Episode 57)

Is it Q-var or Q-vair? Find out today.

 

This is the 57th episode in my drug pronunciations series. In the episode, I divide QVAR and beclomethasone into syllables, tell you which syllables to emphasize, and share my sources. The written pronunciations are below and in the show notes on thepharmacistsvoice.com. 

 

Note: we don’t cover pharmacology in this series. Just pronunciations.

 

QVAR = KUE-var

• Q, like the letter in the alphabet (Q)
• Var, which rhymes with “far”
• Emphasize KUE (Q)
• Sources:  Patient Information in the prescribing information for QVAR on the FDA’s website https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/207921s000lbl.pdf for the written pronunciation. drugs.com for the spoken pronunciation. 

 

Note: the pronunciation of Redihaler is red-ee-HAYE' ler. (It’s a combo of “ready” and “inhaler.”)

 

beclomethasone = be-kloe-METH-a-sone

• Beh, like Becky
• Kloe, like a 4-leaf clover 
• Meth, like methane  
• A, which is a short “A” sound or a schwa “A” sound. It sounds like “Uh”
• Sone, similar to “zone”
• Emphasize METH
• Sources: MedlinePlus.gov (written) and Dr. Tony Guerra’s YouTube channel (spoken)

 

If you’d like to recommend a drug name for this series, please reach out. Either send me a voicemail message or type a message under the contact tab on thepharmacistsvoice.com. 

 

If you know someone who would like to learn how to say QVAR Redihaler or beclomethasone, 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 from this episode 

• Patient Information Section for QVAR on the FDA’s website https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/020911s029s030lblPI.pdf (accessed 6-18-25)
• drugs.com - check out the “click and listen” feature
• MedlinePlus.gov (beclomethasone) https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a681050.html 
• Tony Guerra, PharmD on YouTube beclomethasone video 

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)

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