2 syllables: o, zone. Stress on o.
OH-zohn
/ˈoʊˌzoʊn/
ozone is pronounced OH-zohn (/ˈoʊˌzoʊn/). It has two syllables (o-zone), with the stress on "o". Ozone is a pale blue gas with a sharp smell, consisting of three oxygen atoms (O3). It forms a layer in the Earth’s stratosphere that absorbs most of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, while also occurring in low concentrations near electrical discharges and some polluted air. In everyday language, it typically refers to this ozone layer, ozone in air, or ozone-generating technologies.
Ozone is a pale blue gas with a sharp smell, consisting of three oxygen atoms (O3). It forms a layer in the Earth’s stratosphere that absorbs most of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, while also occurring in low concentrations near electrical discharges and some polluted air. In everyday language, it typically refers to this ozone layer, ozone in air, or ozone-generating technologies.
"The city shut down outdoor activities due to high ozone levels in the air."
"Ozone devices are sometimes used to purify drinking water and disinfect surfaces."
"Scientists study how ozone interacts with other atmospheric compounds."
Ozone is spoken as two syllables: O-zone. In IPA, US/UK typically /ˈoʊˌzoʊn/ or /ˈəʊˌzəʊn/ depending on the variant. Emphasize the first syllable with a long O, followed by a clear zoh-n sounding second syllable. Mouth: start with a rounded /oʊ/ lip position, then a voiced /z/ followed by a long /oʊ/ and final /n/. Audio reference: listen to standard pronunciations in Cambridge/Oxford dictionaries or Forvo entries for “ozone.”
Common errors: 1) Flattening the second syllable to a schwa (/ˈoʊzən/). Correction: keep the second syllable with /oʊ/ and final /n/. 2) Dropping the stem vowel length in the first syllable, giving /ˈozən/. Correction: maintain the long /oʊ/ in the first syllable and a clear /zoʊn/. 3) Pronouncing as /ˈɒzən/ with a British flat /ɒ/ or misplacing /z/; ensure /oʊ/ and /zoʊ/ sequences. 4) Not releasing the final /n/; ensure the nasal ends clearly.
US: /ˈoʊˌzoʊn/ with rhotic, longer first vowel and clear second vowel; UK: /ˈəʊˌzəʊn/ or /ˈəʊˈzəʊn/, less rhotic, second vowel often a schwa; Australia: /ˈɒːzən/ or /ˈəʊzəʊn/? Australians often reduce unstressed vowels slightly and may have a shorter, clipped second syllable. IPA references: US /ˈoʊˌzoʊn/, UK /ˈəʊˌzəʊn/, AU /ˈɒːzən/ or /ˈəʊzəʊn/. You’ll hear the rhoticity difference and vowel quality shift by accent.
Difficult due to two long, back vowels in close succession and a final nasal, which can tempt shortening or changing to a monosyllable. The sequence /oʊ/–/zoʊ/ requires precise lip rounding and jaw movement; non-native speakers often reverse or elide the second vowel (/oʊ/ becomes /ə/ or /ɪ/). Mastery involves keeping two distinct, tense vowel nuclei and a clear /n/ after. IPA guidance helps you align tongue position.
Is the middle consonant in 'ozone' always /z/? Yes, the sequence is /ˈoʊ-zoʊn/: the second segment begins with the voiced alveolar fricative /z/ followed by the long /oʊ/ and final /n/. Some speakers may voice-leniently reduce the /z/ slightly in rapid speech, but the phoneme itself remains /z/. Focus on holding /z/ firmly as the transition from /oʊ/ to /oʊ/ occurs, to preserve the word’s two-syllable rhythm.
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US: rhotic, lush vocalic nucleus in /oʊ/; UK: less rhotic, vowel qualities closer to /əʊ/ and /əʊn/; AU: vowel shifts can influence /ɒ/ vs /əʊ/ and final nasal; pay attention to lip rounding and jaw openness. US tends to preserve clear second /oʊ/, UK may reduce to /əʊ/ for some speakers; AU varies, often mid-back vowels; IPA: US /ˈoʊˌzoʊn/, UK /ˈəʊˌzəʊn/, AU /ˈɒːzən/ or /ˈəʊzəʊn/ depending on speaker. Focus on rhoticity and consistency of the two nuclei.
Ozone derives from the Greek word ozein, meaning to smell, reflecting its characteristic scent after electrical discharges. The term was coined in the 19th century by German chemist Carl Runge who isolated the gas and named it for its odor. The root oze- traces to the Greek ozein, from ozōn meaning smell or stink, and the -one suffix is a typical chemical nomenclature indicating a distinct molecule, though in this case triatomic oxygen. First used in 1840s scientific literature, ozone quickly became central in atmospheric chemistry as researchers connected its formation to ultraviolet light and electric discharge. Over time, as awareness of the ozone layer’s protective role grew, the word’s meaning broadened in public discourse to include ozone-therapy, ozone purification, and industrial ozone generators. In modern usage, ozone most often signals air quality concerns or environmental policy, as well as chemistry discussions about allotropes of oxygen. The life of the term has thus tracked the evolving understanding of atmospheric chemistry and environmental health. Etymology emphasizes the gas’s odor-related origin and its official role in protecting life on Earth, while contemporary usage extends to technology and health contexts where ozone is engineered or measured for effects, benefits, or hazards.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "ozone" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "ozone"
-one sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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