paracetamol

IPA/ˌpærəˈsiːtəmɒl/
IPA/ˌpærəˈsiːtəmɑːl/

paracetamol — noun

  • paracetamolsingular
  • paracetamolsplural

1. a common over-the-counter medicine that eases mild pain such as headaches, tooth

1.nounB1
Definition

a common over-the-counter medicine that eases mild pain such as headaches, toothache, and muscle aches, and brings down a fever; the same drug is sold in the United States as acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol).

Example

Lina swallowed two paracetamol tablets with a glass of water before bed.

countable: two paracetamol tablets

The nurse told Mr. Patel to take paracetamol every six hours for his fever.

take + paracetamol every [time interval]

Common collocations
  • take paracetamol
  • paracetamol tablets
  • a dose of paracetamol
  • paracetamol overdose
  • extra-strength paracetamol
Synonyms
  • acetaminophen

    American English name for the identical drug

  • Tylenol

    common US brand name; refers to the same active ingredient

  • Panadol

    common UK and Asia-Pacific brand name for paracetamol

Grammar Patterns

take + paracetamol

a paracetamol (= one tablet)

Usage Note

British and international generic name; in American English the same chemical is called acetaminophen, often sold under the brand name Tylenol. Countable when referring to tablets ('two paracetamol' = two pills); uncountable when referring to the drug itself ('contains paracetamol').

Common Mistakes

I took a paracetamol pill, then a Tylenol pill for the same headache.
I took paracetamol for my headache.
paracetamol and Tylenol are the same drug, so taking both risks an overdose.
The doctor prescribed paracetamols.
The doctor prescribed paracetamol tablets.
the plural 'paracetamols' is rare; use 'paracetamol tablets' or 'two paracetamol'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Paracetamol and acetaminophen are two names for the exact same drug: paracetamol is the standard name in the UK, Australia, and most of the world, while acetaminophen is the name used in the United States and Canada. Both ease mild pain and reduce fever, but neither lowers swelling. Ibuprofen is a different drug that also reduces pain and fever, and additionally fights inflammation, making it a common choice for sprains or joint pain. Aspirin, the oldest of the four, also fights inflammation and thins the blood, but doctors usually do not give it to children. For a simple headache, you might reach for paracetamol; for a swollen ankle, ibuprofen; for heart-attack first aid, an adult might chew an aspirin.

paracetamol ↗acetaminophen ↗ibuprofen ↗aspirin ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • paracetamol tablet
  • paracetamol dose
  • paracetamol overdose
  • paracetamol syrup
  • paracetamol packet

Phrases

  • take paracetamol
  • swallow a paracetamol
  • extra-strength paracetamol
  • soluble paracetamol
  • children's paracetamol

Prepositions

  • paracetamol for (a headache, fever)
  • paracetamol with (water, food)

Etymology

GreekLatinModern English (chemical naming)

Coined in the mid-twentieth century from parts of the drug's chemical name, para-acetylaminophenol. British and international scientists shortened the long chemical term to 'paracetamol', while American chemists pulled different syllables from the same name to form 'acetaminophen'. Both words name the very same compound, first sold to the public in the 1950s as a gentler alternative to aspirin.