Melamine is a white, crystalline organic compound used chiefly in manufacturing resins and laminates. It’s a noun, often encountered in industrial contexts, consumer products, and discussions of plastic composites. The term denotes a specific chemical substance with a distinctive -amine ending, and it’s pronounced with four syllables and emphasis on the second syllable.
"The kitchenware was coated with a melamine resin to increase durability."
"Researchers warned about melamine contamination in food packaging materials."
"Industrial engineers discussed the properties of melamine-formaldehyde to improve heat resistance."
"In the lab, students learned how melamine reacts under high temperatures and pressure."
Melamine derives from the chemical compound melamine, named after its structure as a derivative of cyanamide groups forming a triazine ring. The root hints at its amino- and triazine-containing backbone. The term entered English in the early 20th century as synthetic resins and plastics research expanded. Its name is built around the -amine suffix common to amines and related nitrogen-containing compounds, with the prefix mela- reflecting its cyanamide/triazine chemistry. The first widely cited uses spanned polymer science literature in the 1940s and 1950s, amid efforts to develop heat-resistant resins for coatings and laminates. Over time, melamine became a common component of melamine-formaldehyde resins, renowned for hardness, heat resistance, and durability, leading to ubiquitous applications in dishes, laminates, and coatings. The word’s evolution tracks the chemical’s ascent from laboratory curiosity to industry standard material, with pronunciation and spelling stabilizing as the compound gained global presence in manufacturing vocabularies.
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Words that rhyme with "Melamine"
-ine sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Melamine is pronounced me-LA-meen with stress on the third syllable, IPA US/UK/AU: /ˌmɛləˈmiːn/ (the exact vowel quality of /ɛ/ in the first syllable). The second syllable is unstressed or lightly stressed; the final syllable carries main stress and a long /iː/ as in “meat” but lengthened. Mouth posture: start with a light /m/, then a schwa-like /ə/ upshift into /l/ and then /ə/ again before the stressed /miːn/. For audio reference you can check standard pronunciation resources or Pronounce entry for melamine: listen for the final steady /iːn/.”,
Two common errors: 1) Putting stress on the first syllable: me-LA-min? Actually the stress is on the third syllable; aim for me-la-MEEN. 2) Slurring the final /miːn/ into /men/ or /min/, producing me-lah-mehn. Correction: enunciate the final /iːn/ clearly with lip rounding and a long vowel. Also avoid a strong /æ/ in the first syllable; use /ɛ/ as in “bet.” Rehearse with a three-syllable segmentation: /ˌmɛl/ /ə/ /ˈmiːn/ or /ˌmɛləˈmiːn/ to lock the rhythm.
In US/UK/AU, melamine shares the /ˌmɛləˈmiːn/ skeleton. The main variation is vowel quality: US often has a flatter /ə/ in the second syllable and a clearer /iː/ in the final syllable; UK tends to slightly closer fronted /iː/ with less rhoticity difference; AU is similar to UK but may feature a broader /ɪ/ or /iː/ depending on speaker. The stress pattern remains the same: secondary on the middle syllable and primary on the final. All three varieties preserve /ˈmiːn/ in the last syllable.
The challenge lies in the three-syllable rhythm with a mid syllable vowel that’s not stressed and the final long vowel /iːn/. English learners often over-emphasize the middle vowel or misplace the stress, pronouncing mel-uh-MEEN or mel-ah-ME-IN. The correct flow is me‑luh‑MEEN, with a clear stop after the first syllable, then a quick glide into /ˈmiːn/. Practicing with minimal pairs helps: me-luh vs meh-luh; ensure the final /miːn/ is long and steady.
Yes. The final stressed syllable carries a long /iː/ and the preceding syllable typically has a reduced vowel /ə/ or /ɪ/ depending on speaker. Unlike many three-syllable words with stress on the middle, melamine places primary stress on the final syllable, requiring a deliberate pitch rise and lengthened vowel on /iː/. Nose-to-mouth positioning is relevant for articulation: lips neutral to slight spread, tongue high for /iː/, and a short, unstressed /ə/ in the middle.
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