How to pronounce cultivate
Say it like KUHL-tuh-vayt. Cultivate 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 cultivate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KUHL
- tuh
- vayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cultivate 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.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- vaytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of cultivate
American and British speakers say cultivate in essentially the same way: /ˈkʌltəˌveɪt/ in the US and /ˈkʌltɪveɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: KUHL-tih-vayt.
What does cultivate mean?
- To grow plants, notably crops.“Most farmers in this region cultivate maize.”
- To nurture; to foster; to tend.“They tried to cultivate an interest in learning among their students.”
- To turn or stir soil in preparation for planting or as a method of weed control between growing crop plants.
Where does cultivate come from?
From Medieval Latin cultivātus, perfect passive participle of cultivō (“till, cultivate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more), from cultīvus (“tilled”), from Latin cultus, perfect passive participle of colō (“till, cultivate”), which
Questions about saying cultivate
How do you pronounce cultivate?
Say KUHL-tuh-vayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈkʌltəˌveɪt/. In British English it is /ˈkʌltɪveɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cultivate?
Cultivate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUHL). Broken into parts: KUHL · tuh · vayt.
Do Americans and Brits say cultivate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkʌltəˌveɪt/ and the British form is /ˈkʌltɪveɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.