How to pronounce acetylene
Say it like uh-SET-uh-leen. Acetylene has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SET).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce acetylene. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- SET
- uh
- leen
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Acetylene pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- SETSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- leenGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of acetylene
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: uh-SET-uh-leen.
What does acetylene mean?
- Any organic compound having one or more carbon–carbon triple bonds; an alkyne.
- Ethyne; the simplest alkyne, a hydrocarbon of formula HC≡CH. It is a colorless, odorless, extremely flammable, explosive gas, formerly used as an illuminating gas, but now used in welding and metallurgy.
- A lamp powered by acetylene, particularly a motor vehicle headlight.
Where does acetylene come from?
Borrowed from French acétylène, coined by French chemist Marcellin Berthelot, from acetyl + -ene.
Questions about saying acetylene
How do you pronounce acetylene?
Say uh-SET-uh-leen. The American pronunciation is /əˈsɛtəˌlin/. In British English it is /əˈsɛtəˌliːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in acetylene?
Acetylene has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SET). Broken into parts: uh · SET · uh · leen.
Is acetylene pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /əˈsɛtəˌliːn/ (uh-SET-uh-leen).