3 syllables: Po, me, lo. Stress on me.
poh-MEE-loh
/poʊˈmiːloʊ/
Pomelo is pronounced poh-MEE-loh (/poʊˈmiːloʊ/). It has three syllables (Po-me-lo), with the stress on "me". Pomelo is a large citrus fruit with a thick rind and mild, sweet-tart flesh. The term also denotes the tree that bears this fruit. In everyday use, it refers to the fruit itself, typically larger than a grapefruit, and can be eaten fresh or used in salads and desserts. (2–4 sentences, ~60 words).
nounPomelo is a large citrus fruit with a thick rind and mild, sweet-tart flesh. The term also denotes the tree that bears this fruit. In everyday use, it refers to the fruit itself, typically larger than a grapefruit, and can be eaten fresh or used in salads and desserts. (2–4 sentences, ~60 words)
"I peeled a juicy pomelo and divided it into bright, citrusy segments."
"The pomelo tree thrives in subtropical climates and can live for many decades."
"She added pomelo slices to the salad for a refreshing, sweet-tart contrast."
Pronounce as POH-meh-loh with stress on the first syllable: /ˈpoʊ.mə.loʊ/ in US/US-style transcription. In UK usage it’s often /ˈpɒm.ə.leɪ/ with a lighter second syllable, and Australian guides sometimes align closer to /ˈpɒ.mə.ləʊ/ depending on speaker. Tip: keep the first syllable strong and avoid a heavy second syllable. Audio references: consider listening to native pronunciations on Pronounce, Forvo, or YouGlish for regional variants.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress (peaking on the second syllable), and twisting the final vowel into a non-native sound. Some speakers overemphasize the second syllable, producing PO-meh-LOH or POH-meh-lay. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, produce /ˈpoʊ.mə.loʊ/, and finish with a clear, rounded /oʊ/ or /ləʊ/ depending on accent. Practicing slow, then speeding up will help lock the final vowel.
US: /ˈpoʊ.məˌloʊ/ with stronger final /loʊ/. UK: /ˈpɒ.mə.leɪ/ or /ˈpɒ.mə.lə/ with a shorter, schwa-ish final. AU: variants align with UK in many contexts, sometimes closer to /ˈpɒ.mə.lɔː/ or /ˈpɒ.mə.lɪ/ depending on region. Key differences: rhoticity is more pronounced in US; vowel quality shifts (long /oʊ/ vs. /ɒ/ and /eɪ/ or /ə/).
The difficulty comes from the three-syllable structure with varied vowel qualities and a silent-ish or light final vowel in some accents. The final /loʊ/ vs. /leɪ/ or /ləʊ/ can confuse learners accustomed to more straightforward citrus names. Also, the middle /mə/ can be pronounced as /mɪ/ or /mə/ depending on rhythm and speed. Focus on stabilizing the first-stressed syllable and the rounded final vowel.
Unique aspect: the middle syllable bears a neutral /ə/ in many pronunciations, while the final syllable often shifts to a long vowel, creating two common patterns: PO-me-lo (US style) and POM-uh-lay (UK/AUS style). This reflects regional vowel shifts and syllable-timed rhythm. In careful speech, keep the three distinct syllables with a clear /ə/ in the middle and a full vowel on the final syllable.
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Pomelo traces its roots to Southeast Asia and entered English via Malay and Portuguese trade routes. The name likely derives from the Malay buah episode and Tamil or Sinhalese terms describing large citrus fruits, though exact lineage varies by source. In early botanical texts, pomelo referred to a broad group of Citrus maxima (or Citrus grandis in older classifications). The fruit’s cultivation spread across East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and Western explorers encountered it in colonial-era markets, where it was coined to distinguish it from smaller citrus varieties like oranges and lemons. Over time, the word ‘pomelo’ became standardized in English to denote the large, thick-rinded citrus, with alternate spellings and regional names persisting in various languages. First known printed use in English dates to the late 18th to early 19th centuries, aligning with the era of expanding global citrus trade. Modern usage recognizes pomelo as a distinct fruit commonly grown in tropical and subtropical regions, appreciated for its size, peelability, and mild flavor profile compared to grapefruit.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Pomelo" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Pomelo" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Pomelo"
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