How to pronounce dote
Say it like DOHT. Dote is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dote. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DOHT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dote pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DOHTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of dote
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: DOHT.
What does dote mean?
- To be weakly or foolishly fond of somebody.“Little Bill's parents just keep doting on him.”
- A darling, a cutie.
- Decay in a tree.
Where does dote come from?
The noun in the sense of "imbecile" is derived from Middle English dote (“simpleton”), itself from doten (see above).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with dote
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of dote.
Questions about saying dote
How do you pronounce dote?
Say DOHT. The American pronunciation is /doʊt/. In British English it is /dəʊt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dote?
Dote is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: DOHT.
Is dote 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 /dəʊt/ (DOHT).