How to pronounce polyethylene
Say it like pol-ee-ETH-uh-leen. Polyethylene has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (ETH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce polyethylene. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pol
- ee
- ETH
- uh
- leen
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Polyethylene pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- polGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- eeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- ETHSay 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.
- leenGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of polyethylene
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: pol-ee-ETH-uh-leen.
What does polyethylene mean?
- A polymer consisting of many ethylene monomers bonded together; used for kitchenware, containers etc.
Where does polyethylene come from?
From poly- + ethylene.
Questions about saying polyethylene
How do you pronounce polyethylene?
Say pol-ee-ETH-uh-leen. The American pronunciation is /ˌpɑˌliˈɛθəˌlin/. In British English it is /ˌpɒˌliːˈɛθəˌliːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in polyethylene?
Polyethylene has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (ETH). Broken into parts: pol · ee · ETH · uh · leen.
Is polyethylene 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 /ˌpɒˌliːˈɛθəˌliːn/ (pol-ee-ETH-uh-leen).