How to pronounce oxygen
Say it like OK-suh-jun. Oxygen has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce oxygen. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OK
- suh
- jun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oxygen pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- junKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of oxygen
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: OK-sih-jun.
What does oxygen mean?
- a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- o
Questions about saying oxygen
How do you pronounce oxygen?
Say OK-suh-jun. The American pronunciation is /ˈɑksədʒən/. In British English it is /ˈɒksɪdʒən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oxygen?
Oxygen has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OK). Broken into parts: OK · suh · jun.
Is oxygen 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 /ˈɒksɪdʒən/ (OK-sih-jun).