How to pronounce citronella
Say it like sit-ro-NEL-uh. Citronella has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce citronella. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- sit
- ro
- NEL
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Citronella pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- sitGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- roKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- NELSay 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.
American vs British pronunciation of citronella
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: sit-ro-NEL-uh.
What does citronella mean?
- A tropical Asian grass, Cymbopogon nardus, that has citrus-scented leaves.
- An essential oil obtained from this plant, often used as an insect repellent.
Where does citronella come from?
Borrowed from French citronnelle.
Words that rhyme with citronella
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of citronella.
Questions about saying citronella
How do you pronounce citronella?
Say sit-ro-NEL-uh. The American pronunciation is /ˌsɪtrɑˈnɛlə/. In British English it is /ˌsɪtrɒˈnɛlə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in citronella?
Citronella has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NEL). Broken into parts: sit · ro · NEL · uh.
Is citronella pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˌsɪtrɒˈnɛlə/ (sit-ro-NEL-uh).