How to pronounce circumnavigate
Say it like sur-kum-NAV-ih-gayt. Circumnavigate has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NAV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce circumnavigate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- sur
- kum
- NAV
- ih
- gayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Circumnavigate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- surGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- kumKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NAVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- gaytKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of circumnavigate
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: suh-kum-NAV-ih-gayt.
What does circumnavigate mean?
- To travel completely around somewhere or something (especially the Globe), especially by sail.“We circumnavigated the Mediterranean.”
- To circumvent or bypass.
- To sail around the world.
Where does circumnavigate come from?
Borrowed from Latin circumnāvigātus, perfect passive participle of circumnāvigō (“sail round something, circumnavigate”), from circum (“about, around”) + nāvigō (“sail, navigate”), from nāvis (“ship”) + agō (“do”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying circumnavigate
How do you pronounce circumnavigate?
Say sur-kum-NAV-ih-gayt. The American pronunciation is /ˌsɝkəmˈnævɪɡeɪt/. In British English it is /ˌsəkəmˈnævɪɡeɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in circumnavigate?
Circumnavigate has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NAV). Broken into parts: sur · kum · NAV · ih · gayt.
Is circumnavigate pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌsəkəmˈnævɪɡeɪt/ (suh-kum-NAV-ih-gayt).