How to pronounce discriminate
Say it like dih-SKRIM-uh-nayt. Discriminate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SKRIM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce discriminate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- SKRIM
- uh
- nayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Discriminate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- SKRIMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- 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 discriminate
American and British speakers say discriminate in essentially the same way: /dɪˈskrɪməˌneɪt/ in the US and /dɪˈskrɪmɪˌneɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-SKRIM-ih-nayt.
What does discriminate mean?
- recognize or perceive the difference
- treat differently on the basis of sex or race
- distinguish“I could not discriminate the different tastes in this complicated dish”
- marked by the ability to see or make fine distinctions“discriminate judgments”“discriminate people”
Where does discriminate come from?
First attested in 1615; borrowed from Latin discrīminātus, perfect passive participle of discrīminō (“to divide, separate, distinguish”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from discrīmen (“a space between,
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with discriminate
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of discriminate.
Questions about saying discriminate
How do you pronounce discriminate?
Say dih-SKRIM-uh-nayt. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈskrɪməˌneɪt/. In British English it is /dɪˈskrɪmɪˌneɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in discriminate?
Discriminate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SKRIM). Broken into parts: dih · SKRIM · uh · nayt.
Do Americans and Brits say discriminate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈskrɪməˌneɪt/ and the British form is /dɪˈskrɪmɪˌneɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.