How to pronounce exfoliate
Say it like eks-FOH-lee-ayt. Exfoliate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce exfoliate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- eks
- FOH
- lee
- ayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Exfoliate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- eksKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- FOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- aytKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of exfoliate
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: eks-FOH-lee-ayt.
What does exfoliate mean?
- To remove the leaves from a plant.
- To remove a layer of dead skin cells, as in cosmetic preparation.
- To split into scales, especially to become converted into scales as the result of heat or decomposition.
Where does exfoliate come from?
From Late Latin exfoliō (“to strip of leaves”), from ex- (“out of”) + folium (“leaf”); compare effoliate and French exfolier.
Questions about saying exfoliate
How do you pronounce exfoliate?
Say eks-FOH-lee-ayt. The American pronunciation is /ɛksˈfoʊlieɪt/. In British English it is /ɛksˈfəʊlieɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in exfoliate?
Exfoliate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FOH). Broken into parts: eks · FOH · lee · ayt.
Is exfoliate 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 /ɛksˈfəʊlieɪt/ (eks-FOH-lee-ayt).