How to pronounce belated
Say it like bih-LAY-tid. Belated has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce belated. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bih
- LAY
- tid
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Belated pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- bihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- LAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- tidKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of belated
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: bih-LAY-tid.
What does belated mean?
- Affected or overtaken by the lateness of the time; hence, synonym of benighted (“overtaken by night; caught out by oncoming night before reaching one's destination”).
- Later in relation to the proper time which something should have happened; specifically, delayed beyond the proper time.“A belated happy birthday to you!”
- Slow to learn or to adopt a trend; hence, lacking education or sophistication; benighted, unenlightened, unsophisticated.
- simple past and past participle of belate. How to pronounce belate
Where does belated come from?
From belate (verb) + -ed (suffix forming adjectives, and past tense and past participle forms of regular verbs).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with belated
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of belated.
Questions about saying belated
How do you pronounce belated?
Say bih-LAY-tid. The American pronunciation is /bɪˈleɪtɪd/. In British English it is /bɪˈleɪtɪd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in belated?
Belated has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LAY). Broken into parts: bih · LAY · tid.
Is belated pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /bɪˈleɪtɪd/ (bih-LAY-tid).