3 syllables: El, e, ment. Stress on El.
EL-uh-muhnt
/ˈɛləmənt/
Element is pronounced EL-uh-muhnt (/ˈɛləmənt/). It has three syllables (El-e-ment), with the stress on "El". Element (noun) refers to a fundamental part or component of a larger system, or to a basic substance that cannot be broken down into simpler parts by chemical means. It also denotes a natural or essential feature or principle. The term is frequently used across science, mathematics, and everyday description to identify building blocks or constituents.
nounElement (noun) refers to a fundamental part or component of a larger system, or to a basic substance that cannot be broken down into simpler parts by chemical means. It also denotes a natural or essential feature or principle. The term is frequently used across science, mathematics, and everyday description to identify building blocks or constituents.
"The element iron is strong and widely used in construction."
"Water is a chemical element in many contexts, but more accurately a compound; nonetheless, hydrogen and oxygen are elements."
"Safety is a key element of responsible engineering practice."
You pronounce it EL-uh-ment, with primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈɛl.ə.mənt/. The middle syllable is a reduced schwa, and the final consonant is a light, clear ‘t.’ In careful speech you’ll hear three distinct syllables; in fast speech it can sound like two, with the middle vowel reduced. Listen for the crisp initial /ˈɛl/ and the trailing /mənt/. Audio reference: you can compare with authoritative dictionaries or pronunciation videos that render /ˈɛl.ə.mənt/.
Common errors: flattening the first syllable so it sounds like ‘ell-,’ or turning the middle vowel into a full /e/ as in ‘eel-uh-ment.’ Another frequent error is over-articulating the final ‘t,’ making it sound like ‘ment’ with a hard stop where it’s often softer in fluent speech. Correction: keep the first syllable short and crisp /ˈɛl/; reduce the middle vowel to a quick /ə/; finish with a light /t/ after a brief /ən/ nucleus. Practice with slow, then natural tempo until the sequence /ˈɛl.ə.mənt/ feels fluent.
In US, UK, and AU, the word retains /ˈɛl.ə.mənt/ with rhoticity affecting only surrounding vowels; the main vowel qualities are similar. In most US accents, the /ˈɛ/ remains bright, and the ‘r’ is not involved here. UK and AU keep a crisp /ˈel/ or /ˈɛl/, but some Australian speakers may slightly lengthen or reduce the middle vowel to /ə/ more quickly. Final /t/ tends to be released in careful speech across all three, but is often softer in casual Australian and some UK accents.
The difficulty lies in the unstressed middle syllable reduced to a schwa /ə/ and the short, lightly released final /t/. Learners often overemphasize the /ə/ or mispronounce the final consonant as a stop that’s too strong, which disrupts the rhythm of three even syllables. To master it, practice the tight rhythm: a stressed initial /ˈ ɛl/, quick /ə/ reduction in the middle, then a gentle /mənt/ with a soft coda /t/ release. Listen for native timing in educational content.
Yes. Element is a two-part stress on the first syllable: /ˈɛl.ə.mənt/. The primary stress sits on 'El,' making it clearly audible as the leading syllable. The rest of the word carries secondary, unstressed vowels, producing a smooth, quick sequence: /ˈɛl.ə.mənt/. This aligns with standard English stress patterns for two-syllable or tri-syllable nouns derived from Latin roots.
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Element comes from the Latin elementum, meaning 'rudiment,' 'first principle,' or 'part of a whole.' The root element is from Greek stoicheion, via Latin, where it originally referred to a 'principle' or 'first rule' in logic and science. In classical philosophy, elements were the basic substances thought to compose the natural world (earth, water, air, fire). The word entered English in the 14th century, retaining its sense of a fundamental building block or essential part. As science advanced, element acquired a precise chemical meaning: a substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means, derived from the idea of a fundamental unit. In modern usage, it spans everyday language (a key element of a plan) to specialized science (elements on the periodic table).
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Element" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Element" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Element"
-ant sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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