How to pronounce polytetrafluoroethylene
Say it like pol-ee-teh-truh-flor-oh-ETH-ih-leen. Polytetrafluoroethylene has nine syllables, and the main stress falls on the seventh one (ETH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce polytetrafluoroethylene. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pol
- ee
- teh
- truh
- flor
- oh
- ETH
- ih
- leen
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Polytetrafluoroethylene 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.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- tehKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- truhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- florGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- ETHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- leenKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of polytetrafluoroethylene
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: pol-ee-teh-truh-flaw-roh-ETH-ih-leen.
What does polytetrafluoroethylene mean?
- A tough synthetic resin used to make seals and bearings and to create a nonstick coating on cooking utensils.
Where does polytetrafluoroethylene come from?
From poly- + tetrafluoroethylene.
Words that rhyme with polytetrafluoroethylene
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of polytetrafluoroethylene.
Questions about saying polytetrafluoroethylene
How do you pronounce polytetrafluoroethylene?
Say pol-ee-teh-truh-flor-oh-ETH-ih-leen. The American pronunciation is /ˌpɑlitɛtrəˌflɔroʊˈɛθɪlin/. In British English it is /ˌpɒlitɛtrəˌflɔːrəʊˈɛθɪliːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in polytetrafluoroethylene?
Polytetrafluoroethylene has nine syllables, and the main stress falls on the seventh one (ETH). Broken into parts: pol · ee · teh · truh · flor · oh · ETH · ih · leen.
Is polytetrafluoroethylene 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 /ˌpɒlitɛtrəˌflɔːrəʊˈɛθɪliːn/ (pol-ee-teh-truh-flaw-roh-ETH-ih-leen).