How to pronounce fluctuate
Say it like FLUHK-chuh-wayt. Fluctuate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FLUHK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce fluctuate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FLUHK
- chuh
- wayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Fluctuate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FLUHKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- chuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- waytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of fluctuate
American and British speakers say fluctuate in essentially the same way: /ˈflʌktʃəˌweɪt/ in the US and /ˈflʌktʃəˌweɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: FLUHK-chuh-wayt.
What does fluctuate mean?
- To vary irregularly; to swing.
- To undulate.
- To be irresolute; to waver.“I fluctuated between wishing he was back home and wishing I'd never met him.”
Where does fluctuate come from?
First attested in 1630; borrowed from Latin flūctuātus, perfect passive participle of flūctuō (“(of the sea) to surge, swell; (of man) to waver, fluctuate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix).
Questions about saying fluctuate
How do you pronounce fluctuate?
Say FLUHK-chuh-wayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈflʌktʃəˌweɪt/. In British English it is /ˈflʌktʃəˌweɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fluctuate?
Fluctuate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FLUHK). Broken into parts: FLUHK · chuh · wayt.
Do Americans and Brits say fluctuate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈflʌktʃəˌweɪt/ and the British form is /ˈflʌktʃəˌweɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.