How to pronounce delegate
Say it like DEL-uh-gayt. Delegate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce delegate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DEL
- uh
- gayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Delegate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- gaytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of delegate
American and British speakers say delegate in essentially the same way: /ˈdɛləˌɡeɪt/ in the US and /ˈdɛlɪɡɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: DEL-ih-ghit.
What does delegate mean?
- transfer power to someone
- give an assignment to (a person) to a post, or assign a task to (a person)
- a person appointed or elected to represent others
Where does delegate come from?
From Middle English delegat, from Old French delegat, from Latin dēlēgātus substantivized from the nominative masculine singular of dēlēgātus, the perfect passive participle of dēlēgō (“to send, assign, delegate”), see -ate (noun-forming suffix).
Questions about saying delegate
How do you pronounce delegate?
Say DEL-uh-gayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɛləˌɡeɪt/. In British English it is /ˈdɛlɪɡɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in delegate?
Delegate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DEL). Broken into parts: DEL · uh · gayt.
Do Americans and Brits say delegate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdɛləˌɡeɪt/ and the British form is /ˈdɛlɪɡɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.