How to Pronounce Nuclear

To pronounce "nuclear", say NUCL-ear — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈnukɫiɝ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

nuclear

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Accent

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Speed

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2

Syllables

7

Letters

/ˈnukɫiɝ/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/njˈuːkliə/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “nuclear”

"nuclear" has 2 syllables: nucl-ear. It rhymes with thermonuclear and mononuclear, if that helps it stick.

What does nuclear mean?

noun

  1. Nuclear power

adjective

  1. Pertaining to the nucleus of an atom.
  2. Involving energy released by nuclear reactions (fission, fusion, radioactive decay).

    “a nuclear reactor”

Hear “nuclear” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with nuclear

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

thermonuclearmononuclear

Related words

atomicthermonuclearcentralnuclideatomradioactivefissilereactor

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "nuclear"?▾

"Nuclear" has 2 syllables: nucl · ear.

What is the IPA transcription of "nuclear"?▾

The IPA transcription of "nuclear" is /ˈnukɫiɝ/.

What does "nuclear" mean?▾

Nuclear: Nuclear power

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