How to pronounce decaffeinate
Say it like dee-KAF-uh-nayt. Decaffeinate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce decaffeinate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dee
- KAF
- uh
- nayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Decaffeinate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- deeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- KAFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep 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 decaffeinate
American and British speakers say decaffeinate in essentially the same way: /diˈkæfəˌneɪt/ in the US and /diːˈkæfiːneɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: dee-KAF-ee-nayt.
What does decaffeinate mean?
- To remove the caffeine from something (especially from coffee).
Where does decaffeinate come from?
From de- + caffeine + -ate (verb-forming suffix).
Questions about saying decaffeinate
How do you pronounce decaffeinate?
Say dee-KAF-uh-nayt. The American pronunciation is /diˈkæfəˌneɪt/. In British English it is /diːˈkæfiːneɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in decaffeinate?
Decaffeinate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAF). Broken into parts: dee · KAF · uh · nayt.
Do Americans and Brits say decaffeinate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /diˈkæfəˌneɪt/ and the British form is /diːˈkæfiːneɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.