How to pronounce culminate
Say it like KUHL-muh-nayt. Culminate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUHL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce culminate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KUHL
- muh
- nayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Culminate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KUHLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- muhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- naytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of culminate
American and British speakers say culminate in essentially the same way: /ˈkʌlməˌneɪt/ in the US and /ˈkʌlmɪneɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: KUHL-mih-nayt.
What does culminate mean?
- Of a heavenly body, to be at the highest point, reach its greatest altitude.
- To reach the (physical or figurative) summit, highest point, peak etc.“The tower culminates in a point.”
- To reach a climax; to come to a decisive point, especially an end or conclusion.“Their messy breakup culminated in a restraining order.”
- Relating to the culmen.
- Growing upward, as opposed to lateral growth.
Where does culminate come from?
First attested in 1647; borrowed from Medieval Latin culminātus, perfect passive participle of culminō (“to crown”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from Latin culmen (“peak, highest point”, oblique stem culmin-) + -ō (verb-forming suffix)
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying culminate
How do you pronounce culminate?
Say KUHL-muh-nayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈkʌlməˌneɪt/. In British English it is /ˈkʌlmɪneɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in culminate?
Culminate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUHL). Broken into parts: KUHL · muh · nayt.
Do Americans and Brits say culminate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkʌlməˌneɪt/ and the British form is /ˈkʌlmɪneɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.