How to pronounce pollen
Say it like POL-un. Pollen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pollen. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- POL
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pollen pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- POLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of pollen
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: POL-un.
What does pollen mean?
- A fine, granular substance produced in flowers.
- Pollen grains (microspores) produced in the anthers of flowering plants.
- To cover with, or as if with, pollen.
Where does pollen come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin pollen (“fine flour”), used by Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century to describe the spores produced in the anthers of flowers.
Words that rhyme with pollen
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pollen.
Questions about saying pollen
How do you pronounce pollen?
Say POL-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɑlən/. In British English it is /ˈpɒlən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pollen?
Pollen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POL). Broken into parts: POL · un.
Is pollen 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 /ˈpɒlən/ (POL-un).