How to pronounce allocate
Say it like AL-uh-kayt. Allocate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce allocate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AL
- uh
- kayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Allocate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ALSay 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.
- kaytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of allocate
American and British speakers say allocate in essentially the same way: /ˈæləˌkeɪt/ in the US and /ˈæləˌkeɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: AL-uh-kayt.
What does allocate mean?
- To set aside for a purpose.“Please do not eat the meringue, as it is allocated for the dinner party tomorrow.”
- To distribute according to a plan, generally followed by the adposition to.“The bulk of K–12 education funds are allocated to school districts that in turn pay for the cost of operating schools.”
- To reserve a portion of memory for use by a computer program.
Where does allocate come from?
From Latin allocātus, perfect passive participle of Latin allocō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ad- (“to”) + locō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying allocate
How do you pronounce allocate?
Say AL-uh-kayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈæləˌkeɪt/. In British English it is /ˈæləˌkeɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in allocate?
Allocate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AL). Broken into parts: AL · uh · kayt.
Do Americans and Brits say allocate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈæləˌkeɪt/ and the British form is /ˈæləˌkeɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.