How to pronounce adequate
Say it like AD-uh-kwut. Adequate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce adequate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AD
- uh
- kwut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Adequate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ADSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- kwutKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of adequate
American and British speakers say adequate in essentially the same way: /ˈædəkwət/ in the US and /ˈædɪkwɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: AD-ih-kwit.
What does adequate mean?
- having the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task“she had adequate training”“her training was adequate”
- sufficient for the purpose“an adequate income”“the food was adequate”
- about average; acceptable“more than adequate as a secretary”
Where does adequate come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin adaequātus, perfect passive participle of adaequō (“to make equal to”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (verb-forming suffix)), further from ad (“to, towards, at”) + aequō (“to make equal, equalize”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying adequate
How do you pronounce adequate?
Say AD-uh-kwut. The American pronunciation is /ˈædəkwət/. In British English it is /ˈædɪkwɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in adequate?
Adequate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AD). Broken into parts: AD · uh · kwut.
Do Americans and Brits say adequate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈædəkwət/ and the British form is /ˈædɪkwɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.