Accent LabYour browser has no British voice installed, so playback may sound American. On iPhone and Mac, add one in Settings → Accessibility → Spoken Content → Voices → English (UK).
Why "aluminium" sounds different in British English
The British word is spelled aluminium, with an extra I, and pronounced /ˌæljəˈmɪniəm/, with the main stress on the third syllable, MIN. The American word is spelled aluminum and pronounced /əˈluːmɪnəm/, with stress on the second syllable, LOO.
Both forms were used in the 1800s. Britain settled on "-ium" to match other elements such as sodium and potassium, while America kept the shorter form.
How to say "aluminium" like a Brit, step by step
- Start with al, as in "Alan".
- Add a light yuh: al-yuh.
- Put the main stress on MIN.
- Finish with ee-um: al-yuh-MIN-ee-um.
Practise "aluminium" in a sentence
- Wrap it in aluminium foil.
- The frame is made of aluminium.
- Aluminium cans are easy to recycle.
Saying it once correctly is easy. Saying it right in the middle of a fast sentence is the hard part, which is why the sentences above matter more than the single word.
Frequently asked questions
How do you pronounce aluminium in a British accent?
In Received Pronunciation, aluminium is pronounced /ˌæljəˈmɪniəm/, roughly "al-yuh-MIN-ee-um". It has five syllables, with the stress on "MIN".
Is the American pronunciation of aluminium wrong?
No. /əˈluːmɪnəm/ is standard in American English. Both are correct, they simply belong to different accents. If you are learning a British accent, aim for /ˌæljəˈmɪniəm/.