How to Pronounce Petroleum

To pronounce "petroleum", say PETR-ol-eum — 3 syllables, IPA /pəˈtɹoʊliəm/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

petroleum

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Accent

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Speed

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3

Syllables

9

Letters

/pəˈtɹoʊliəm/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “petroleum”

"petroleum" has 3 syllables: petr-ol-eum. It rhymes with folium and oleum, if that helps it stick.

What does petroleum mean?

noun

  1. A flammable liquid ranging in color from clear to very dark brown and black, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring naturally in deposits under the Earth's surface

Synonyms

crude oiloil

Hear “petroleum” 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 petroleum

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

foliumoleumlinoleumscholiumloliumcholiambdolium

Related words

crudetarkerosenepetrochemicalpetrolgasoline

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "petroleum"?▾

"Petroleum" has 3 syllables: petr · ol · eum.

What is the IPA transcription of "petroleum"?▾

The IPA transcription of "petroleum" is /pəˈtɹoʊliəm/.

What does "petroleum" mean?▾

Petroleum: A flammable liquid ranging in color from clear to very dark brown and black, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring naturally in deposits under the Earth's surface

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