How to pronounce unobtainium
Say it like uhn-ub-TAY-nee-um. Unobtainium has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce unobtainium. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uhn
- ub
- TAY
- nee
- um
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unobtainium pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhnGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- ubKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- neeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- umKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of unobtainium
American and British speakers say unobtainium in essentially the same way: /ˌʌnəbˈteɪniəm/ in the US and /ˌʌnɒbˈteɪnɪəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: uhn-ob-TAY-nih-um.
What does unobtainium mean?
- A fictional material or component which, if it existed, would enable one to easily solve a hard problem.
- An especially rare material or component that is outrageously expensive or otherwise almost impossible to get hold of.
- A high technology component that is extremely expensive.
Where does unobtainium come from?
From unobtain(able) + -ium (suffix typical of names of atomic elements), modeled after uranium and titanium.
Words that rhyme with unobtainium
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of unobtainium.
Questions about saying unobtainium
How do you pronounce unobtainium?
Say uhn-ub-TAY-nee-um. The American pronunciation is /ˌʌnəbˈteɪniəm/. In British English it is /ˌʌnɒbˈteɪnɪəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unobtainium?
Unobtainium has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TAY). Broken into parts: uhn · ub · TAY · nee · um.
Do Americans and Brits say unobtainium the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌʌnəbˈteɪniəm/ and the British form is /ˌʌnɒbˈteɪnɪəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.