How to pronounce defoliate
Say it like dee-FOH-lee-yayt. Defoliate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce defoliate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dee
- FOH
- lee
- yayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Defoliate 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.
- FOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- yaytKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of defoliate
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: dee-FOH-lee-yayt.
What does defoliate mean?
- To remove foliage from (one or more plants), most often with a chemical agent.“Agent Orange was used to defoliate jungle vegetation.”
- Deprived of leaves; defoliated.
Where does defoliate come from?
From de- + foliate.
Questions about saying defoliate
How do you pronounce defoliate?
Say dee-FOH-lee-yayt. The American pronunciation is /diˈfoʊlijeɪt/. In British English it is /diːˈfəʊliːjeɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in defoliate?
Defoliate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FOH). Broken into parts: dee · FOH · lee · yayt.
Is defoliate pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /diːˈfəʊliːjeɪt/ (dee-FOH-lee-yayt).