3 syllables: O, le, fin. Stress on O.
OH-luh-fin
/ˈoʊləfɪn/
Olefin is pronounced OH-luh-fin (/ˈoʊləfɪn/). It has three syllables (O-le-fin), with the stress on "O". Olefin is a hydrocarbon intermediate or polymerization feedstock consisting of carbon–carbon double bonds in unsaturated hydrocarbons. In chemistry contexts it denotes alkenes, often used in polymer synthesis or as a reactive intermediate. The term is commonly applied in industrial chemistry and materials science to describe olefinic compounds and their derivatives.
nounOlefin is a hydrocarbon intermediate or polymerization feedstock consisting of carbon–carbon double bonds in unsaturated hydrocarbons. In chemistry contexts it denotes alkenes, often used in polymer synthesis or as a reactive intermediate. The term is commonly applied in industrial chemistry and materials science to describe olefinic compounds and their derivatives.
"The feedstock for the polymer plant includes ethylene and propylene olefins."
"Researchers studied olefin metathesis to form complex molecular architectures."
"Catalysts promote olefin polymerization under controlled temperature and pressure."
Pronounce as /ˈoʊ.lɪ.fən/ in US; /ˈəʊ.lɪˌfæn/ in UK; /ˈəʊ.lɪf.ən/ in Australian English. Emphasize the first syllable; the second is unstressed, and the final 'fin' sounds like 'fin' in thin with a schwa for the 'ə' in some dialects. Start with a long O, then a quick L- syllable, followed by a light 'i' and a final schwa or schwa-like 'ən'. Audio reference: imagine saying “oh” plus “luh” plus “fuhn.”
Common errors include misplacing stress (treating it as second-syllable emphasis), pronouncing the middle vowel as a full 'ee' (making /ˈoʊliː.fən/), and truncating the final syllable to 'fin' with a pronounced 'n' (→ /ˈoʊ.lɪ.fən/ with a very clipped -ən). Correction tips: keep the 'li' light and quick, reduce vowel length in the middle syllable, and finalize with a weak schwa before the nasal. Use minimal pairs to train: olefin vs. olive fan (for contrast in lip position)
In US English, the first syllable carries primary stress with a clear /oʊ/; UK English often shows a slightly weaker first vowel and a more clipped final '-fin' with less rhoticity, while Australian tends to a broader /əʊ/ in the initial syllable and a flatter final schwa. The middle syllable remains reduced in all varieties. IPA references: US /ˈoʊ.lɪ.fən/; UK /ˈəʊ.lɪˌfæn/; AU /ˈəʊ.lɪf.ən/.
Two challenges stand out: the diphthong in the first syllable /oʊ/ requires an accurate glide from /o/ to /ʊ/ portion, and the unstressed middle syllable /lɪ/ should be reduced rather than pronounced as a full vowel. Additionally, the final schwa-plus-n /ən/ can be tricky in fast speech. Practice by isolating the two open positions, then blend into a smooth three-syllable word while keeping the first syllable stressed.
Unique question explores whether the 'ole' starts with a distinct 'oh' sound or a near-schwa depending on phonetic fatigue or regional blend. Answer: in careful speech, US and AU speakers will articulate the 'ole' as /ˈoʊ/ or /ˈəʊ/ with full lip rounding; the 'l' snuggles to the vowel and the final 'fin' keeps a light alveolar nasal closure. This nuance can matter in high-precision glossers for chemical literature.
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Olefin derives from the chemical term alkene plus the diminutive -in, reflecting its status as a class of unsaturated hydrocarbons containing a carbon–carbon double bond. The word alkene comes from al- (chemical prefix) + -kene from Germanic influences and the archaic word ‘ene’ for vinyl-related chemistry, with -ine forming a subclass. The earliest chemical usage traces to the 19th century when chemists systematized hydrocarbon nomenclature; the term olefin gained popularity in the mid-20th century in polymer science to emphasize the olefinic double bond’s reactivity, distinguishing it from alkanes (single bonds) and alkynes (triple bonds). The American Chemical Society and IUPAC formalized olefin as a structural descriptor, while industry usage broadened to reference streams, catalysts, and polymerization processes. First known written uses appear in chemical journals around the early 1900s, with broader industrial adoption in mid-century petrochemical literature as polymer production expanded globally.
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Words that rhyme with "Olefin"
-fin sounds
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