How to pronounce exterminate
Say it like ik-STUR-mih-nayt. Exterminate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce exterminate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ik
- STUR
- mih
- nayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Exterminate 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.
- STURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- mihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- naytKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of exterminate
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: ek-STUH-mih-nayt.
What does exterminate mean?
- To kill or otherwise permanently eliminate all of (a population, often of pests or undesirables), usually intentionally.“We'll use poison to exterminate the rats.”
- To bring a definite end to; to finish completely.“The public school failed to exterminate truancy.”
Where does exterminate come from?
Borrowed from Latin exterminātus, perfect passive participle of exterminō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ex- (“thoroughly”) + terminō (“to finish, close, end”), from terminus (“limit, end”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying exterminate
How do you pronounce exterminate?
Say ik-STUR-mih-nayt. The American pronunciation is /ɪkˈstɝmɪneɪt/. In British English it is /ɛkˈstəmɪneɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in exterminate?
Exterminate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STUR). Broken into parts: ik · STUR · mih · nayt.
Is exterminate pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ɛkˈstəmɪneɪt/ (ek-STUH-mih-nayt).