3 syllables: Pa, ti, na. Stress on ti.
puh-TEE-nuh
/pəˈtinə/
Patina is pronounced puh-TEE-nuh (/pəˈtinə/). It has three syllables (Pa-ti-na), with the stress on "ti". Patina is a noun referring to a thin, typically green or brown film that forms on copper, bronze, or certain stones through oxidation, or a surface appearance that indicates age or wear. It also can describe a superficially attractive exterior that masks underlying properties. The term often conveys a sense of history and understated elegance.
nounPatina is a noun referring to a thin, typically green or brown film that forms on copper, bronze, or certain stones through oxidation, or a surface appearance that indicates age or wear. It also can describe a superficially attractive exterior that masks underlying properties. The term often conveys a sense of history and understated elegance.
"The statue developed a beautiful patina over decades of exposure to rain and sunlight."
"Museum restorers balanced preserving the patina with cleaning the surface."
"Her bronze sculpture gained a rich patina that enhanced its character."
Patina is pronounced as /ˈpeɪtɪnə/ in US English and /ˈpætɪnə/ in many UK varieties; some American speakers also say /ˈpeɪtəːnə/. The stress is on the first syllable: PAT-i-nə. Mouth positions: initial 'pa' sounds like 'pay' plus a soft 't' release, then a quick 'i' as in 'kit,' ending with a schwa + 'nə' or a short 'ə' sound. Listen for two consonant holds: the [t] is a light, alveolar tap in rapid speech and not a heavy stop.
Common mistakes include wrongly compressing the first syllable to a short 'pat' as in 'pat pat,' and truncating the final vowel so it sounds like 'patin' with a silent or barely audible final syllable. To correct: ensure the first syllable is 'pay' with a clear 'ei' diphthong, then release into a light 'ti' followed by 'na' with a clear schwa. Practicing the full three syllables with even rhythm helps avoid eliding the final syllable.
In US English, PAT-i-nuh (/ˈpeɪtɪnə/) emphasizes the 'pay' vowel and uses a rhotic schwa-like ending. In UK English, PAT-i-nuh is often /ˈpætɪnə/, with a shorter 'a' in the first syllable and less diphthong emphasis. Australian English typically has /ˈpætiːnə/ or /ˈpæɪtənə/, with a more relaxed vowel in the first syllable and a longer final 'ee' quality that shortens in casual speech. The main differences are vowel quality in the first syllable and the length of the final vowel sound, with rhoticity less influential in non-rhotic varieties.
Patina is tricky because it blends a stressed closed-open syllable onset with a light, quick middle 'ti' and a soft final 'na' that can slur into a schwa. Non-native speakers may misplace stress, mispronounce the 'ti' as 'tee' or 'tih,' or flatten the final vowel. Focus on the first syllable's diphthong, keep the 't' light rather than a strong stop, and finish with a relaxed 'nə' to avoid an extra syllable.
A notable feature is the mid-syllable 'ti' cluster. In careful speech, the 'ti' is a light, almost syllabic touch rather than a heavy 't' plus 'i.' You should feel the tongue quickly rise to stop the air flow but not bite into the next syllable. In fast speech, the 'ti' can blur with the preceding vowel, but maintaining a tiny release between 't' and 'i' keeps the word clear.
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Patina comes from the Italian patina, meaning coating or covering, ultimately from the Latin patina, meaning a shallow dish or pan, and by extension a layer spread on a surface. In English, the sense of a surface film that forms through natural processes emerged in the 17th–18th centuries, particularly in discussions of metalwork where oxidation creates a green or brown surface on copper alloys. The word then broadened to describe any attractive surface aging or finish. The Latin root patina is linked to patere, meaning to lie open or to spread, reflecting the notion of a film spreading across a surface. First known use in English records appears in the early modern period, often in scientific or decorative contexts, before becoming common in art and sculpture critiques. The term is often used metaphorically to praise the character or historical interest of a surface, not just a chemical film. In contemporary usage, patina signals an intentional or valued aged look rather than merely corrosion, and it is frequently used in design, antiques, and restoration conversations.
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Words that rhyme with "Patina"
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