How to pronounce ate
Say it like AYT. Ate is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AYT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- AYTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of ate
American and British speakers say ate in essentially the same way: /eɪt/ in the US and /eɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: AYT.
What does ate mean?
- simple past of eat How to pronounce eat
- An elder sister
- A respectful title or form of address for an older woman.
Where does ate come from?
However, the pronunciation /ɛt/ likely continues Middle English et, from Old English ǣt, from Proto-West Germanic *āt, from Proto-Germanic *ēt, with shortening as in e.g.
Words that rhyme with ate
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ate.
Words that sound like ate
Questions about saying ate
How do you pronounce ate?
Say AYT. The American pronunciation is /eɪt/. In British English it is /eɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ate?
Ate is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: AYT.
Do Americans and Brits say ate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /eɪt/ and the British form is /eɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as ate?
Ate sounds the same as eight in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.