How to pronounce animate
Say it like AN-uh-mut. Animate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce animate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AN
- uh
- mut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Animate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ANSay 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.
- mutKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of animate
American and British speakers say animate in essentially the same way: /ˈænəmət/ in the US and /ˈænɪmət/ in the UK.
British respelling: AN-ih-mut.
What does animate mean?
- To impart motion or the appearance of motion to.“leaves animated by a stiff breeze”
- To give spirit or vigor to; to stimulate or enliven; to inspirit.
- That lives.
- That has (or is believed to have) a spirit (anima) and/or some amount of consciousness and sentience, either being alive or supernaturally seeming alive.
- Possessing the quality or ability of motion.
Where does animate come from?
From Middle English animat(e), from Latin animātus, perfect passive participle of animō (“to fill with breath, quicken, encourage, animate”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from anima (“soul, spirit, breath”); see anima.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying animate
How do you pronounce animate?
Say AN-uh-mut. The American pronunciation is /ˈænəmət/. In British English it is /ˈænɪmət/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in animate?
Animate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AN). Broken into parts: AN · uh · mut.
Do Americans and Brits say animate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈænəmət/ and the British form is /ˈænɪmət/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.