English pronunciation · Words Starting with N
Nuclear Pronunciation
Nuclear is pronounced NOO-klee-er, IPA /ˈnukliɝ/.
NOO-klee-er
US /ˈnukliɝ/ · UK /ˈnjuːkliə/
Syllables: NOO · klee · er (3 syllables, stress on syllable 1)
adjective: Relating to the nucleus of an atom, and to the energy or weapons that come from splitting it.
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Nuclear in a Sentence
- The country gets a third of its power from nuclear plants.
- Talks on nuclear disarmament resumed in March.
- She trained as a nuclear physicist.
Common Mispronunciations of Nuclear
Not NOO-kyuh-ler
This swaps the last two sounds and is the most discussed mispronunciation in English. The word follows nucleus: NOO-klee-er, with the l before the vowel.
Not noo-KLEER
The beat belongs to the opening syllable, so the rest of the word tails off.
Tip: Say nucleus, then swap the ending: NOO-klee-uhs becomes NOO-klee-er. The British add a y after the n, giving NYOO.
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