How do you say Humira (adalimumab)?

How do you say Humira® and adalimumab? Unfortunately, you can’t sound out drug names. They’re not pronounced the way they look. 👀

Humira® is one of the top 200 drugs in the US. It’s a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker. Humira® is the brand name, and adalimumab is the generic (non-proprietary) name.

In my pronunciation episodes, I break drug names down into syllables, explain which syllable(s) have the emphasis, reveal the source of the information, and put the written pronunciations in the show notes so that you see them and use them right away.

The purpose of these pronunciation episodes is to provide the intended pronunciations of drug names from reliable sources so that you feel more confident saying them and less frustrated learning them. I hope this episode helps you! 🥳

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Humira® has 3 syllables: hu-MARE-ah

Hu, like human
MARE, like a female horse (This syllable gets the emphasis.)
Ah, like the “a” in “adoption.”

Source: FDA

Instructions for Use of Humira®
Medication Guide for Humira®

According to Wikipedia (accessed 4/4/23), the brand name Humira® stands for “human monoclonal antibody in rheumatoid arthritis.” It’s not quite an acronym.

HUMIRA is the brand-name. (Also what H-U-M-I-R-A stands for.)

HMAIRA is the acronym. (Note the word, “air.”)

AY da LIM ue mab is the written pronunciation for adalimumab in the USP Dictionary Online. With respect, I disagree with the USP Dictionary’s pronunciation of adalimumab.

AY da LIM ue mab has 5 syllables.

Ay, as in day (This syllable gets the “secondary”/second-most emphasis.)

Da, like dungeon

LIM, like limit (This syllable gets the “primary”/most emphasis.)

Ue, like ukulele

Mab, which rhymes with “jab.”

Why do I disagree with the pronunciation in the USP Dictionary Online? Much like azithromycin, there’s more than one way to pronounce the first syllable of adalimumab.

A da LIM ue mab is my preferred pronunciation.

A, like the short a in “hat” (a)

Da, like dungeon

LIM, like limit

Ue, like ukulele

Mab, which rhymes with “jab.”

Thank you to the USP Legal Department for permission to share your written pronunciations with my audience. 🙏🏻

Links from this episode

Wikipedia (accessed 4-4-23) – How did Humira® get its name?

https://www.humira.com/ (Click on “full prescribing information” to read the indications for use.)

FDA https://www.fda.gov/

Humira® Instructions for Use and Medication Guide (located in “package insert” = prescribing information)