aspirin

UK /ˈæs.pər.ɪn/ US /ˈæs.pɚ.ɪn/ Syllables: as-pi-rin

Pronunciation

Noun A1 Beginner Neutral

A common medicine, usually in tablet form, used to relieve pain and reduce fever.

Aspirin is a common medicine, usually in the form of a small tablet, that relieves pain and lowers a fever. People take it for headaches, toothaches and muscle pain. Doctors sometimes recommend a low dose each day to protect the heart. Aspirin can upset the stomach, and it is not safe for everyone, so you should read the label and ask a pharmacist if you are not sure. Children should not take it unless a doctor says so.

"He took an aspirin to ease his headache before the meeting."

Example sentences

"I took an aspirin for my headache."

Level A2
"The doctor said to take one aspirin a day."

Level B1
"There is a bottle of aspirin in the cupboard."

Level A2
"Aspirin can help lower a fever."

Level B1

Look-alikes and common mistakes

paracetamol : Paracetamol is another pain medicine and is used widely. It works differently from aspirin.
ibuprofen : Ibuprofen is a pain and swelling medicine. Aspirin is older and also thins the blood.

Word family and forms

Forms: aspirins

pain killer headache tablet

Word partners

Words and phrases that often go with "aspirin".

take an aspirin
an aspirin tablet
low-dose aspirin
aspirin for a headache
two aspirin
a bottle of aspirin

Origin

Aspirin began as a German trademark in 1899. The name was built from the A of acetyl, spir from a German word for an acid named after the spirea plant, and the ending -in used for chemical substances. Over time it became the everyday word for the medicine in English.

Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Dictionary.com.

How to remember it

Aspirin ends in in, like many medicine names: aspirin, penicillin, insulin.

Test yourself

Which word fits the gap? "I took an _____ for my headache."

Answer: aspirin

In your own words, what does "aspirin" mean?