How to pronounce confiscate
Say it like KAHN-fuh-skayt. Confiscate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAHN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce confiscate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAHN
- fuh
- skayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Confiscate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KAHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- fuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- skaytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of confiscate
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KON-fih-skayt.
What does confiscate mean?
- To use one's authority to lay claim to and separate a possession from its holder.“In schools, it is common for teachers to confiscate electronic games and other distractions.”
Where does confiscate come from?
Borrowed from Latin cōnfiscātus, the perfect passive participle of Latin cōnfiscō (“to seize for the public treasury (fiscus)”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying confiscate
How do you pronounce confiscate?
Say KAHN-fuh-skayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑnfəˌskeɪt/. In British English it is /ˈkɒnfɪskeɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in confiscate?
Confiscate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAHN). Broken into parts: KAHN · fuh · skayt.
Is confiscate pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈkɒnfɪskeɪt/ (KON-fih-skayt).