English pronunciation · Words Starting with P
Polyethylene Pronunciation
Polyethylene is pronounced pah-lee-E-thuh-leen, IPA /ˌpɑˌliˈɛθəˌlin/.
pah-lee-E-thuh-leen
US /ˌpɑˌliˈɛθəˌlin/ · UK /ˌpɒlɪˈɛθɪˌliːn/
Syllables: pah · lee · E · thuh · leen (5 syllables, stress on syllable 3)
noun: The most widely used plastic, made into bags, bottles, and packaging film.
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Polyethylene in a Sentence
- The sheeting is polyethylene rather than PVC.
- Most shopping bags are low-density polyethylene.
- Polyethylene was discovered by accident in 1933.
Common Mispronunciations of Polyethylene
Not pah-lee-eth-uh-LEEN
Land the punch on the third beat, E, and let the two after it trail off. A stressed ending pulls the word out of shape.
Not poh-LY-eth-uh-leen
Poly here is two quick beats, pah then lee, with no long eye. Polygon and polymer open the same way.
Tip: Take it in two pieces: poly, meaning many, plus ethylene. Britain often calls the same material polythene, which is three beats instead of five.
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