How to pronounce attenuate
Say it like uh-TEN-yoo-ayt. Attenuate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce attenuate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- TEN
- yoo
- ayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Attenuate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- yooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- aytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of attenuate
American and British speakers say attenuate in essentially the same way: /əˈtɛnjuˌeɪt/ in the US and /əˈtɛnjuˌeɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-TEN-yoo-ayt.
What does attenuate mean?
- To reduce in size, force, value, amount, or degree.
- To make thinner, as by physically reshaping, starving, or decaying.
- To become thin or fine; to grow less.
- Slender, thin.
- Rarefied, thin, refined.
- Gradually tapering into a petiole-like extension toward the base.
Where does attenuate come from?
The verb is first attested in 1530, the adjective in 1626; borrowed from Latin attenuātus, the perfect passive participle of attenuō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from ad- (“to, towards, at”) + tenuo
Questions about saying attenuate
How do you pronounce attenuate?
Say uh-TEN-yoo-ayt. The American pronunciation is /əˈtɛnjuˌeɪt/. In British English it is /əˈtɛnjuˌeɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in attenuate?
Attenuate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN). Broken into parts: uh · TEN · yoo · ayt.
Do Americans and Brits say attenuate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈtɛnjuˌeɪt/ and the British form is /əˈtɛnjuˌeɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.