3 syllables: meth, a, nol. Stress on meth.
METH-uh-nahl
/ˈmɛθəˌnɑl/
methanol is pronounced METH-uh-nahl (/ˈmɛθəˌnɑl/). It has three syllables (meth-a-nol), with the stress on "meth". Methanol is the simplest alcohol, CH3OH, used as a solvent and fuel but highly toxic if ingested. It’s pronounced with three syllables: /ˈmeθənɒl/ in British English or /ˈmiːθənɒl/ in some American varieties; the initial stress falls on the first syllable. The second syllable contains a schwa or reduced vowel, and the final syllable presents a clear “ol” sound. Overall, the word combines a metathesis-like sequence of m-e-th-a-n-ol, but is best learned as ME-tha-nol.
Methanol is the simplest alcohol, CH3OH, used as a solvent and fuel but highly toxic if ingested. It’s pronounced with three syllables: /ˈmeθənɒl/ in British English or /ˈmiːθənɒl/ in some American varieties; the initial stress falls on the first syllable. The second syllable contains a schwa or reduced vowel, and the final syllable presents a clear “ol” sound. Overall, the word combines a metathesis-like sequence of m-e-th-a-n-ol, but is best learned as ME-tha-nol.
"The chemist added methanol as a cleaning solvent for the glassware."
"Methanol can be produced biologically but is more commonly synthesized from carbon monoxide and hydrogen."
"Due to its toxicity, methanol should never be consumed or heated directly in kitchen-grade equipment."
Pronounce it as ME-THA-NOL with stress on the first syllable: US /ˈmiːθənɒl/ or /ˈmiːθənɒl/, UK /ˈmɛθənɒl/. The first syllable has a long 'ee' or short 'e' depending on accent, the th is a voiceless dental fricative, and the final 'nol' is pronounced with an 'o' like ‘lot’ but rounded. Break it into two clear vowels: /ˈmiː/ or /ˈmɛ/ + /θən/ + /ɒl/. If you prefer a rhythm cue: strong-weak-strong. You’ll want the dental fricative to be precise (tongue against upper teeth).
Two common errors: (1) mispronouncing the middle 'th' as a hard ‘t’ or ‘d’ sound, which changes the word’s identity; now it sounds like ‘meh-tah-nol.’ Fix: place the tongue gently between the teeth and breathe out to voice /θ/ without voicing. (2) Mixing the final 'ol' into a neutral /ə/ or a dull /l/ only; fix by rounding the lips and producing a clear /ɒl/ with a light trailing-off. Emphasize the first syllable.
US tends to have /ˈmiːθənɒl/ with a slightly rounded /ɒ/ and no strong rhotic influence in the final syllable; UK often presents /ˈmɛθənɔːl/ with a longer /ɔː/ vowel in the final syllable; Australian typically /ˈmiːθənɒl/ with a more clipped, crisp /ɒ/ and a less pronounced /r/ flavor. Across accents, the main differences are the vowel qualities in the first and final syllables and the degree of rhoticity influencing the r-less British flavor. Use IPA to guide your mouth shape.
Three challenges: (1) the sequence /ˈmeθənɒl/ has a short central vowel in the unstressed middle syllable that can blur into /ə/ or /ɪ/; (2) the dental fricative /θ/ requires precise tongue placement; beginners often substitute /t/ or /d/ leading to ‘meh-tan-ol’; (3) the final /ɒl/ requires lip rounding and a clear 'l' to avoid a dull ending. Practice with minimal pairs focusing on each segment.
The stress falls on the first syllable: ME-tha-nol. This is common for many chemical names built from a stem (meth-) with an -anol suffix, but the challenge is keeping the middle /θən/ unstressed while preserving the dental fricative; you want a crisp /θ/ and a fast, light /ən/. Keeping the first syllable strong helps prevent a late-stress drift. IPA: /ˈmiːθənɒl/ or /ˈmɛθənɒl/ depending on accent.
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Methanol derives from the combination of the Greek word ‘methy’ meaning ‘wine’ or ‘spirit’ and the suffix ‘-anol’ from alcohol. The term first appeared in the 19th century as chemistry advanced the systematic naming of simple alcohols, distinguishing methanol from ethanol via the meth- prefix indicating a methyl group attached to an alcohol. Its early usage revolved around industrial solvents and antifreeze formulations. Over time, methanol earned notoriety because it is more toxic than ethanol, with a metabolism that produces formaldehyde and formic acid, leading to severe poisoning. The name solidified in chemical literature by the late 1800s into modern nomenclature, aligning with IUPAC names for simple one-carbon alcohols. The root ‘meth-’ is inherited from older chemical roots meaning “methyl,” a basic one-carbon unit, while ‘-anol’ signals the presence of an alcohol group. First known uses were in industrial chemistry texts describing solvents and fuel blends; by the mid-20th century, methanol had become central to antifreeze formulations, formaldehyde production, and methanol-to-olefins processes, which solidified its scientific and industrial identity. In contemporary language, methanol remains a crucial but hazardous chemical, requiring precise handling and clear naming to avoid conflation with safer alcohols like ethanol. It occupies a well-established position in chemical nomenclature as the one-carbon alcohol with the chemical formula CH3OH, highlighting that even seemingly simple molecules demand careful discourse due to toxicological concerns.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "methanol" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "methanol"
-ole sounds
-oll sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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