5 syllables: Po, ly, eth, yl, ene. Stress on eth.
pah-lee-ETH-uh-leen
/ˌpɑˌliˈɛθəˌlin/
Polyethylene is pronounced pah-lee-ETH-uh-leen (/ˌpɑˌliˈɛθəˌlin/). It has five syllables (Po-ly-eth-yl-ene), with the stress on "eth". Polyethylene is a high-molecular-weight polymer composed of long chains of ethylene monomers. It is the simplest and most common plastic, used in packaging, containers, and various industrial applications. The term refers to the material itself as well as to the polymer class that includes low-, linear-, and high-density variants.
nounPolyethylene is a high-molecular-weight polymer composed of long chains of ethylene monomers. It is the simplest and most common plastic, used in packaging, containers, and various industrial applications. The term refers to the material itself as well as to the polymer class that includes low-, linear-, and high-density variants.
"The lab researchers synthesized a new grade of polyethylene with improved clarity."
"Polyethylene terephthalate is often confused with polyethylene, but they are different polymers."
"The recycling symbol on plastic bags often indicates polyethylene."
Pronounce as /ˌpɒlɪˈɛθɪliːn/ in US, /ˌpɒlɪˈɛθɪliːn/ in UK, and /ˌpɔːliˈɛθɪliːn/ in AU. Stress pattern is (pol‑uh‑ETH‑uh‑leen), with primary stress on the third syllable “ETH.” Start with a light ‘p,’ fall between short ‘o’ and ‘a’ in ‘poly,’ then a clear ‘eth’ as in ‘ethics,’ followed by ‘-e‑lene’ with a long ‘ee’ before the final ‘n.’ Audio cue: listen for the stressed eth and the final long -een.”,
Common errors: (1) misplacing stress on the second or fourth syllable; (2) pronouncing the -eth- as 'ee-th' instead of 'eth' as in ethics; (3) shortening the final '-lene' to a quick 'len' instead of a long 'leen.' Correction tips: practice POL-ih-ETH-ih-leen, emphasize ETH with a crisp voiceless 'th' and prolong the final -een. Use minimal pairs like 'police' vs 'poly' to anchor syllable timing, and record yourself to verify the third-syllable stress and the long final vowel.
In US and UK, the primary stress is on the third syllable: po-LI-eth- e- leen, but you’ll hear slightly different quality in vowels: US tends to a slightly flatter ‘o’ in poly, UK favors a shorter 'o' and crisper 'eth' with a less rhotic finish; AU mirrors UK but with more rounded vowel quality in the first syllable. IPA cues: US /ˌpɒliˈɛθɪliːn/, UK /ˌpɒlɪˈɛθɪliːn/, AU /ˌpɒliˈɛθɪliːn/.
It's challenging due to the three consonant clusters in ‘poly-’ and ‘-ene’ combined with a multisyllabic flow and the 'eth' digraph, which often confuses learners who expect a hard ‘e’ and confuse the th sound with d or t. The primary stress sits on the third syllable, which can be easy to misplace when speaking quickly. Mastery comes from isolating the ‘eth’ sound /θ/ and maintaining the long -een ending with a steady lip seal.
A unique feature is the central ‘eth’ cluster that contrasts with typical English spellings; the ‘eth’ sound /θ/ is voiceless and requires the tongue between the teeth, which is less common in many languages. Additionally, the word places strong emphasis on the third syllable, and the final -ene, pronounced as a long /iːn/, influences the word’s cadence. Focusing on the three-part rhythm (poly | eth |e leen) helps anchor correct articulation.
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Polyethylene derives from the combination of poly-, meaning many, from Greek polys; ethylene, the hydrocarbon consisting of two carbon atoms with a double bond (C2H4). The word poly- signals a polymer made from repeating ethylene units. Ethylene itself comes from Greek ethos (meaning a characteristic or disposition) and the chemical suffix -ene denotes unsaturation in hydrocarbons. The concept of polyethylene was developed in the 1930s by chemists at Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) and later expanded by multiple labs worldwide. Early production involved high-pressure radical polymerization, yielding highly branched, tough polymers. As techniques advanced, low-density and high-density variants were produced through different polymerization methods and catalysts, enabling a wide range of properties. The first widely used polyethylene polymers were low-density polyethylene (LDPE) used for bags and films, followed by high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for bottles and pipe. Today, polyethylene remains the world’s most produced plastic, with extensive applications across packaging, construction, and consumer goods. Its name is now a generic class descriptor, applied to multiple polymer grades whose shared backbone is repeated ethylene units.
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Words that rhyme with "Polyethylene"
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