Chemical Elements: A Pronunciation Guide for Students

SYMBOL   ELEMENT NAME                      PRONUNCIATION

Ac       ACTINIUM……………… ack-TIN-ee-um (“um” rhymes with “gum”)

Al       ALUMINUM…………….. ah-LOOM-in-um   [British: aluminium = al-you-MIN-ee-um]

Am   AMERICIUM……………. AM-ur-RISH-ee-um, AM-er-EE-she-um

Sb     ANTIMONY…………….. ANT-uh-mo-knee

Ar       ARGON………………….. ARE-gone

As       ARSENIC………………… ARE-suh-nick, ARE-sin-ick

At       ASTATINE………………. ASS-tuh-teen, ASS-tuh-TIN

Ba     BARIUM…………………. BEAR-ee-um (“BURY ’em”)

Bk     BERKELIUM…………….. burr-KEY-lee-um, BURK-lee-um

Be     BERYLLIUM…………….. buh-REEL-ee-um

Bi       BISMUTH……………….. BIZ-muth

Bh     BOHRIUM………………. BORE-ee-um

B         BORON………………….. BORE-on

Br       BROMINE……………….. BRO-mean (“BRO” rhymes with “go”)

Cd     CADMIUM………………. CAD-me-um

Ca     CALCIUM……………….. CAL-see-um

Cf       CALIFORNIUM…………. cal-uh-FOR-nee-um

C         CARBON………………… CAR-bun

Ce     CERIUM…………………. SEAR-ee-um

Cs       CESIUM…………………. SEE-zee-um

Cl       CHLORINE……………… CLOOR-een   (“CLOOR” rhymes with “floor”)

Cr       CHROMIUM…………….. CROW-me-um

Co     COBALT…………………. CO-bault (“bault” rhymes with fault)

Cu     COPPER…………………. COP-purr

Cm   CURIUM………………… CURE-ee-um

Ds     DARMSTADTIUM………. darm-STAAT-ee-um (“STAAT”rhymes with “thought”)

Db     DUBNIUM………………. DUBE-nee-um (“DUBE”rhymes with “tube”)

Dy     DYSPROSIUM………….. dis-PRO-zee-um, dis-PRO-she-um

Es       EINSTEINIUM………….. eine-STY-knee-um (“eine” rhymes with “mine”)

Er       ERBIUM…………………. UR-bee-um, (“UR” rhymes with “fur”)

Eu       EUROPIUM……………… your-ROW-pea-um

Fm     FERMIUM……………….. FUR-me-um

F         FLUORINE………………. FLOOR-een

Fr       FRANCIUM……………… FRAN-see-um

Gd     GADOLINIUM………….. GAD-el-IN-ee-um

Ga     GALLIUM……………….. GAL-ee-um

Ge     GERMANIUM…………… jour-MAIN-ee-um (“jour” rhymes with “your”)

Au     GOLD……………………. GOLD (rhymes with “sold”)

Hf       HAFNIUM……………….. HALF-nee-um

Hs     HASSIUM……………….. HAH-see-um

He     HELIUM…………………. HE-lee-um

Ho     HOLMIUM………………. HOLE-me-um

H         HYDROGEN…………….. HIGH-druh-gin

In       INDIUM…………………. IN-dee-um

I           IODINE…………………. EYE-o-dine, EYE-o-den

Ir         IRIDIUM………………… ih-RID-ee-um

Fe       IRON……………………. EYE-urn

Kr       KRYPTON……………….. CRIP-tawn (“tawn” rhymes with “yawn”)

La       LANTHANUM…………… LAN-thah-num

Lr       LAWRENCIUM………….. law-RIN-see-um, lore-RIN-see-um

Pb     LEAD…………………….. LED

Li         LITHIUM……………….. LITH-ee-um

Lu       LUTETIUM……………… loo-TEE-she-um

Mg     MAGNESIUM……………. mag-NEE-zee-um

Mn     MANGANESE……………. MANG-guh-knees (“MANG” rhymes with “bang”)

Mt     MEITNERIUM…………… mite-NUR-ee-um

Md     MENDELEVIUM………… men-duh-LAY-vee-um

Hg     MERCURY………………. MERK-your-ee

Mo     MOLYBDENUM…………. muh-LIB-den-um

Nd       NEODYMIUM………………… nee-o-DIM-ee-um

Ne         NEON………………………….. KNEE-on

Np       NEPTUNIUM…………………. nep-TUNE-ee-um

Ni           NICKEL………………………… NICK-ull (“ull” rhymes with “dull”)

Nb       NIOBIUM……………………… nee-O-bee-um

N NITROGEN………………………… NIGH-trah-gin, nigh-TRO-gin

No       NOBELIUM…………………… no-BELL-ee-um

Os         OSMIUM………………………. OZ-me-um

O           OXYGEN………………………. OX-eh-gin

Pd         PALLADIUM………………….. puh-LAY-dee-um

P             PHOSPHORUS………………. FOSS-fur-us

Pt         PLATINUM……………………. PLAT-in-um (“PLAT” rhymes with “flat”)

Pu         PLUTONIUM…………………. plue-TONE-ee-um (“plue” rhymes with “blue”)

Po         POLONIUM…………………… puh-LO-nee-um

K             POTASSIUM…………………. poh-TASS-ee-um

Pr         PRASEODYMIUM…………… PRAY-zee-o-DIM-ee-um

Pm       PROMETHIUM………………. pro-MEETH-ee-um (“MEETH” rhymes with “teeth”)

Pa         PROTACTINIUM…………….. PRO-tack-TIN-ee-um

Ra         RADIUM………………………. RAY-dee-um

Rn       RADON………………………… RAY-don (“don” rhymes with “on”)

Re         RHENIUM…………………….. REE-nee-um

Rh       RHODIUM……………………. ROW-dee-um

Rg       ROENTGENIUM…………….. rent-GUIN-ee-um (“guin”rhymes with “win”; “guin”as in again)

Rb       RUBIDIUM……………………. roo-BID-ee-um

Ru       RUTHENIUM…………………. roo-THEE-nee-um

Rf         RUTHERFORDIUM…………. ruh-thur-FORD-ee-um    (“ruh-thur”rhymes with “other”)

Sm       SAMARIUM…………………… suh-MARE-ee-um (“MARE” rhymes with “care”)

Sc         SCANDIUM…………………… SCAN-dee-um

Sg         SEABORGIUM……………….. see-BORG-ee-um

Se         SELENIUM……………………. suh-LEE-nee-um

Si           SILICON………………………. SILL-eh-CON, SILL-eh-ken

Ag         SILVER………………………… SILL-vurr   (“vurr” rhymes with “purr”)

Na         SODIUM………………………. SO-dee-um

Sr         STRONTIUM…………………. STRON-tee-um, STRON-chee-um

S             SULFUR……………………….. SULL-fur   (“sull” rhymes with “gull”)

Ta         TANTALUM…………………… TAN-tuh-lum

Tc         TECHNETIUM……………….. teck-NEE-she-um, teck-NEE-shim

Te         TELLURIUM………………….. tuh-LURE-ee-um   (“LURE” rhymes with “cure”)

Tb         TERBIUM……………………… TUR-bee-um   (“TUR” rhymes with “fur”)

Tl           THALLIUM……………………. THAL-ee-um   (“THAL” rhymes with “pal”)

Th         THORIUM…………………….. THOR-ee-um   (“THOR” rhymes with “sore”)

Tm       THULIUM……………………… THOOL-ee-um (“THOOL” rhymes with “pool”)

Sn         TIN……………………………… TIN (rhymes with “pin”)

Ti           TITANIUM……………………. tie-TAY-nee-um

W         TUNGSTEN…………………… TONGUE-stin (“stin” rhymes with “win”)

U           URANIUM…………………….. your-RAY-nee-um

V             VANADIUM…………………… vuh-NAY-dee-um

Xe         XENON………………………… ZEE-non

Yb         YTTERBIUM………………….. it-TOUR-bee-um

Y             YTTRIUM……………………… IT-tree-um

Zn         ZINC……………………………. zink (rhymes with “think!”)

Zr                 ZIRCONIUM           zir-CONE-ee-um (“zir” rhymes with “sir”)