How to pronounce aggravate
Say it like AG-ruh-vayt. Aggravate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce aggravate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AG
- ruh
- vayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Aggravate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- AGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- vaytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of aggravate
American and British speakers say aggravate in essentially the same way: /ˈæɡrəˌveɪt/ in the US and /ˈæɡrəˌveɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: AG-ruh-vayt.
What does aggravate mean?
- To make (an offense) worse or more severe; to increase in offensiveness or heinousness.
- To make (any bad thing) worse.
- To exasperate; to provoke or irritate.
Where does aggravate come from?
The adjective is first attested in 1471 in Middle English, the verb in 1530; from Latin aggravātus, perfect passive participle of aggravō (“to add to the weight of, make worse, oppress, annoy”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adje
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying aggravate
How do you pronounce aggravate?
Say AG-ruh-vayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈæɡrəˌveɪt/. In British English it is /ˈæɡrəˌveɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in aggravate?
Aggravate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AG). Broken into parts: AG · ruh · vayt.
Do Americans and Brits say aggravate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈæɡrəˌveɪt/ and the British form is /ˈæɡrəˌveɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.