How to pronounce contribute
Say it like kun-TRIB-yoot. Contribute has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRIB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce contribute. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kun
- TRIB
- yoot
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Contribute 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.
- TRIBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- yootKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of contribute
American and British speakers say contribute in essentially the same way: /kənˈtrɪbjut/ in the US and /kənˈtrɪbjuːt/ in the UK.
British respelling: kun-TRIB-yoot.
What does contribute mean?
- bestow a quality on“Her presence lends a certain cachet to the company”“The music added a lot to the play”
- contribute to some cause“I gave at the office”
- be conducive to“The use of computers in the classroom lead to better writing”
Where does contribute come from?
From Latin contribūtus, perfect passive participle of contribuō (“to bring together; to unite”), from con- (“together”) + tribuō (“to bestow”), from tribus (“tribe”), derived from trēs (“three”), from Proto-Italic *trēs, from Proto-Indo-European *tréyes.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with contribute
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of contribute.
Questions about saying contribute
How do you pronounce contribute?
Say kun-TRIB-yoot. The American pronunciation is /kənˈtrɪbjut/. In British English it is /kənˈtrɪbjuːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in contribute?
Contribute has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRIB). Broken into parts: kun · TRIB · yoot.
Do Americans and Brits say contribute the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kənˈtrɪbjut/ and the British form is /kənˈtrɪbjuːt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.