How to pronounce pollute
Say it like puh-LOOT. Pollute has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LOOT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pollute. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- puh
- LOOT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pollute pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LOOTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of pollute
American and British speakers say pollute in essentially the same way: /pəˈlut/ in the US and /pəˈluːt/ in the UK.
British respelling: puh-LOOT.
What does pollute mean?
- To make something harmful, especially by the addition of some unwanted product.“The factory polluted the river when it cleaned its tanks.”
- To make something or somewhere less suitable for some activity, especially by the introduction of some unnatural factor.“The lights from the stadium polluted the night sky, and we couldn't see the stars.”
- To corrupt or profane
- Polluted; defiled.
Where does pollute come from?
From Middle English polluten, borrowed from Latin pollūtum, from pollūtus (“no longer virgin", "unchaste”), perfect passive participle of polluō (“soil", "defile", "dishonor”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with pollute
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pollute.
Questions about saying pollute
How do you pronounce pollute?
Say puh-LOOT. The American pronunciation is /pəˈlut/. In British English it is /pəˈluːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pollute?
Pollute has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LOOT). Broken into parts: puh · LOOT.
Do Americans and Brits say pollute the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pəˈlut/ and the British form is /pəˈluːt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.