How to pronounce polystyrene
Say it like pol-ee-STY-reen. Polystyrene has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (STY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce polystyrene. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pol
- ee
- STY
- reen
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Polystyrene 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.
- STYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- reenGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of polystyrene
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: pol-ee-STY-reen.
What does polystyrene mean?
- A vinylic polymer of styrene, CH₂CHphenyl.
- An alkane chain of benzene molecules, RCH₂CHphenylR.
Where does polystyrene come from?
From poly- + styrene.
Questions about saying polystyrene
How do you pronounce polystyrene?
Say pol-ee-STY-reen. The American pronunciation is /ˌpɑˌliˈstaɪˌrin/. In British English it is /ˌpɒˌliːˈstaɪˌriːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in polystyrene?
Polystyrene has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (STY). Broken into parts: pol · ee · STY · reen.
Is polystyrene 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 /ˌpɒˌliːˈstaɪˌriːn/ (pol-ee-STY-reen).