How to pronounce commemorate
Say it like kuh-MEM-uh-rayt. Commemorate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MEM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce commemorate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kuh
- MEM
- uh
- rayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Commemorate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- MEMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- raytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of commemorate
American and British speakers say commemorate in essentially the same way: /kəˈmɛməˌreɪt/ in the US and /kəˈmɛməˌreɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: kuh-MEM-uh-rayt.
What does commemorate mean?
- To honor the memory of someone or something with a ceremony or object.“On November 11th we commemorate the fallen with a march.”
- To serve as a memorial to someone or something.“The cenotaph commemorates the fallen.”
Where does commemorate come from?
First attested in 1599; borrowed from Latin commemorātus, perfect passive participle of commemorō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying commemorate
How do you pronounce commemorate?
Say kuh-MEM-uh-rayt. The American pronunciation is /kəˈmɛməˌreɪt/. In British English it is /kəˈmɛməˌreɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in commemorate?
Commemorate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MEM). Broken into parts: kuh · MEM · uh · rayt.
Do Americans and Brits say commemorate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kəˈmɛməˌreɪt/ and the British form is /kəˈmɛməˌreɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.