How to pronounce differentiate
Say it like dif-uh-REN-shee-ayt. Differentiate has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (REN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce differentiate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dif
- uh
- REN
- shee
- ayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Differentiate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- difGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- sheeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- aytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of differentiate
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 3, while British speakers stress syllable 5.
British respelling: dif-uh-ren-chih-AYT.
What does differentiate mean?
- mark as different“We distinguish several kinds of maple”
- be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense“His modesty distinguishes him from his peers”
- calculate a derivative; take the derivative
Where does differentiate come from?
From New Latin differentiātus, perfect passive participle of differentiō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix)), from Latin differentia (“difference”); see difference.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying differentiate
How do you pronounce differentiate?
Say dif-uh-REN-shee-ayt. The American pronunciation is /ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃiˌeɪt/. In British English it is /ˌdɪfərɛntʃɪˈeɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in differentiate?
Differentiate has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (REN). Broken into parts: dif · uh · REN · shee · ayt.
Is differentiate pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 3, while British speakers stress syllable 5. The British form is /ˌdɪfərɛntʃɪˈeɪt/ (dif-uh-ren-chih-AYT).