IPA: /ˈfɛntəˌmiːn/
KK: /ˈfɛnθəˌmiːn/
A medication that helps reduce hunger by changing how the body processes certain chemicals in the brain, often used to help people lose weight.
The doctor prescribed phentermine to assist with her weight loss plan.
Phentermine is derived from "phenyl" (from the Greek "phaino", meaning to show or appear) and "tertiary amine" (a type of organic compound). The word refers to a chemical compound that contains a phenyl group and a tertiary amine structure, commonly used as an appetite suppressant.
Think of 'phenyl' as something that 'shows' or 'appears' in the chemical structure, and remember that phentermine is a compound that helps control appetite.