Learn How to Pronounce petroleum
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How to pronounce:
petroleum
Definition:
(nou) a dark oil consisting mainly of hydrocarbons
Phonetic Transcription:
pɪˈtrəʊlɪəm
Examples:
The majority of the cargo was oil and other petroleum products.
The southwestern part of the country is rich in petroleum and natural gas.
The cost of diesel fuel and liquefied petroleum gas also rose.
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Common mistakes of petroleum pronunciation
- Stress placement: Many speakers incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "pe-'TRO-li-um" instead of the correct "PE-tra-lyum" (ˈpəˌtroʊ.li.əm in US, ˈpəʊ.trə.lɪ.əm in UK). Tip: Remember to emphasize the first syllable.
- Vowel pronunciation: Some people pronounce "petroleum" with a short "e" sound, like "puh-tro-li-um." The correct pronunciation has a schwa sound in the first syllable (ˈpəˌtroʊ.li.əm in US, ˈpəʊ.trə.lɪ.əm in UK). Tip: Practice saying "pə" as in "sofa."
- Syllable count: A common mistake is to say "petro-lyum" with only three syllables. The correct pronunciation has four syllables: "pe-tra-lyum" (ˈpəˌtroʊ.li.əm in US, ˈpəʊ.trə.lɪ.əm in UK). Tip: Break it down into syllables while practicing.
- Ending sound: Some speakers drop the "m" sound at the end, saying "petroli" instead of "petroleum." The final "m" is important for clarity (ˈpəˌtroʊ.li.əm in US, ˈpəʊ.trə.lɪ.əm in UK). Tip: Focus on pronouncing the last sound clearly.
- Consonant clarity: People may soften the "t" sound, pronouncing it like a "d," resulting in "pe-dro-li-um." The correct "t" is crisp and clear (ˈpəˌtroʊ.li.əm in US, ˈpəʊ.trə.lɪ.əm in UK). Tip: Practice by saying "t" with a strong burst of air.