How to pronounce oligopoly
Say it like ol-uh-GOP-uh-lee. Oligopoly has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (GOP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce oligopoly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ol
- uh
- GOP
- uh
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oligopoly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- olGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- GOPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of oligopoly
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: ol-ih-GOP-uh-lee.
What does oligopoly mean?
- An economic condition in which a small number of sellers exert control over the market of a commodity.
Where does oligopoly come from?
From oligo- (prefix meaning ‘few; several’) + -poly (suffix meaning ‘pertaining to the number of sellers in a market’), by analogy with monopoly.
Words that rhyme with oligopoly
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of oligopoly.
Questions about saying oligopoly
How do you pronounce oligopoly?
Say ol-uh-GOP-uh-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˌɑləˈɡɑpəli/. In British English it is /ɒlɪˈɡɒpəli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oligopoly?
Oligopoly has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (GOP). Broken into parts: ol · uh · GOP · uh · lee.
Is oligopoly 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 /ɒlɪˈɡɒpəli/ (ol-ih-GOP-uh-lee).