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How to pronounce:
carbon
Definition:
(nou) an abundant nonmetallic tetravalent element occurring in three allotropic forms: amorphous carbon and graphite and diamond; occurs in all organic compounds (nou) a thin paper coated on one side with a dark waxy substance (often containing carbon); used to transfer characters from the original to an under sheet of paper (nou) a copy made with carbon paper
Phonetic Transcription:
ˈkɑːbən
Examples:
The primary coolant in the reactors is carbon dioxide gas.
The enzyme is effective for the conversion of carbon monoxide in a gas stream.
As the solid carbon dioxide warms inside a bottle, it sublimates to a gas.
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Common mistakes of carbon pronunciation
- Misplacing the stress: Many learners incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "car-BON" instead of "CAR-bon". This can confuse listeners. Tip: Remember to stress the first syllable, as shown in IPA: /ˈkɑːr.bən/ (US), /ˈkɑː.bən/ (UK).
- Pronouncing the "a" incorrectly: Some people pronounce the "a" in "carbon" like "a" in "cat". This is incorrect. Tip: The "a" should sound like the "a" in "father". Use IPA: /ˈkɑːr.bən/ (US), /ˈkɑː.bən/ (UK).
- Overemphasizing the "b": Learners sometimes make the "b" sound too pronounced, saying "car-bon" with a strong pause. This isn't natural. Tip: Keep the "b" soft and connected to the following vowel. IPA shows it as /ˈkɑːr.bən/.
- Ignoring the schwa: Some speakers skip the schwa sound in the second syllable, pronouncing it as "car-bon" instead of "car-bən". This can make the word sound choppy. Tip: Remember that the second syllable has a schwa sound, represented in IPA as /ˈkɑːr.bən/.
- Confusing "carbon" with "carb": Some people confuse "carbon" with "carb", pronouncing them similarly. This can lead to misunderstandings. Tip: Make sure to pronounce the full "on" sound in "carbon" as /ˈkɑːr.bən/, distinguishing it clearly from "carb".