How to pronounce exasperate
Say it like ig-ZAS-puh-rayt. Exasperate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZAS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce exasperate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ig
- ZAS
- puh
- rayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Exasperate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- igKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ZASSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- raytKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of exasperate
American and British speakers say exasperate in essentially the same way: /ɪɡˈzæspəreɪt/ in the US and /ɪɡˈzæspəreɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: ig-ZAS-puh-rayt.
What does exasperate mean?
- To tax the patience of; irk, frustrate, vex, provoke, annoy; to make angry.
Where does exasperate come from?
First attested in 1534; borrowed from Latin exasperātus, the perfect passive participle of Latin exasperō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from ex (“out of; thoroughly”) + asperō (“to make rough”), from asper (“rough”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying exasperate
How do you pronounce exasperate?
Say ig-ZAS-puh-rayt. The American pronunciation is /ɪɡˈzæspəreɪt/. In British English it is /ɪɡˈzæspəreɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in exasperate?
Exasperate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZAS). Broken into parts: ig · ZAS · puh · rayt.
Do Americans and Brits say exasperate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪɡˈzæspəreɪt/ and the British form is /ɪɡˈzæspəreɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.