How to pronounce contaminate
Say it like kun-TAM-ih-nayt. Contaminate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce contaminate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kun
- TAM
- ih
- nayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Contaminate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TAMSay 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.
- naytKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of contaminate
American and British speakers say contaminate in essentially the same way: /kənˈtæmɪneɪt/ in the US and /kənˈtæmɪneɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: kun-TAM-ih-nayt.
What does contaminate mean?
- To make something dangerous or toxic by introducing impurities or foreign matter.“This water is contaminated. It isn't safe to drink.”
- To soil, stain, corrupt, or infect by contact or association.
- To make unfit for use by the introduction of unwholesome or undesirable elements.“Do not contaminate the peanut butter with the jelly.”
Where does contaminate come from?
First attested in the early 15ᵗʰ century, in Middle English; from Middle English contaminaten (“to defile; to infect with desease”), from contaminat(e) (“sullied, defiled; infected with desease”, also used as the past participle of contamin
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying contaminate
How do you pronounce contaminate?
Say kun-TAM-ih-nayt. The American pronunciation is /kənˈtæmɪneɪt/. In British English it is /kənˈtæmɪneɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in contaminate?
Contaminate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAM). Broken into parts: kun · TAM · ih · nayt.
Do Americans and Brits say contaminate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kənˈtæmɪneɪt/ and the British form is /kənˈtæmɪneɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.