How to pronounce communicate
Say it like kuh-MYOO-nuh-kayt. Communicate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MYOO).
- kuh
- MYOO
- nuh
- kayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Communicate 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.
- MYOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- kaytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of communicate
American and British speakers say communicate in essentially the same way: /kəˈmjunəˌkeɪt/ in the US and /kəˈmjuːnɪˌkeɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: kuh-MYOO-nih-kayt.
What does communicate mean?
- To impart or transmit (information or knowledge) to someone; to make known, to tell.“It is vital that I communicate this information to you.”
- To impart or transmit (an intangible quantity, substance); to give a share of.“to communicate motion by means of a crank”
- To pass on (a disease) to another person, animal etc.“The disease was mainly communicated via rats and other vermin.”
Where does communicate come from?
Adapted borrowing of Latin commūnicāt- (past participial stem of commūnicō (“share, impart; make common”)) + -ate (verb-forming suffix), from commūnis (“common”) + -icō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying communicate
How do you pronounce communicate?
Say kuh-MYOO-nuh-kayt. The American pronunciation is /kəˈmjunəˌkeɪt/. In British English it is /kəˈmjuːnɪˌkeɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in communicate?
Communicate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MYOO). Broken into parts: kuh · MYOO · nuh · kayt.
Do Americans and Brits say communicate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kəˈmjunəˌkeɪt/ and the British form is /kəˈmjuːnɪˌkeɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.