How to pronounce expectorate
Say it like ik-SPEK-tuh-rayt. Expectorate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPEK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce expectorate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ik
- SPEK
- tuh
- rayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Expectorate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- SPEKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tuhKeep 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 expectorate
American and British speakers say expectorate in essentially the same way: /ɪkˈspɛktəreɪt/ in the US and /ɪkˈspɛktəreɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: ik-SPEK-tuh-rayt.
What does expectorate mean?
- To cough up fluid from the lungs.
- To spit.
Where does expectorate come from?
From Latin expectorātus, past participle of expectorō (“(only figurative) banish from the mind; (post-classical) expel from the breast)”), from ex (“out of”) + pectus (“the breast”).
Questions about saying expectorate
How do you pronounce expectorate?
Say ik-SPEK-tuh-rayt. The American pronunciation is /ɪkˈspɛktəreɪt/. In British English it is /ɪkˈspɛktəreɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in expectorate?
Expectorate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPEK). Broken into parts: ik · SPEK · tuh · rayt.
Do Americans and Brits say expectorate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪkˈspɛktəreɪt/ and the British form is /ɪkˈspɛktəreɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.