How to pronounce grate
Say it like GRAYT. Grate is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce grate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GRAYT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Grate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GRAYTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of grate
American and British speakers say grate in essentially the same way: /ɡreɪt/ in the US and /ɡreɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: GRAYT.
What does grate mean?
- A horizontal metal grill through which liquid, ash, or small objects can fall, while larger objects cannot.“The grate stopped the sheep from escaping from their field.”
- A frame or bed, or kind of basket, of iron bars, for holding fuel while burning.
- To furnish with grates; to protect with a grating or crossbars.“to grate a window”
- To shred (things, usually foodstuffs), by rubbing across a grater.“I need to grate the cheese before the potato is cooked.”
- To make an unpleasant rasping sound, often as the result of rubbing against something.“Listening to his teeth grate all day long drives me mad.”
- To get on one's nerves; to irritate, annoy.“She’s nice enough, but she can begin to grate if there is no-one else to talk to.”
Where does grate come from?
From Middle English grate, from a Medieval Latin crāta, from a Latin word for a hurdle; or Italian grata, from Latin cratis.
Words that rhyme with grate
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of grate.
Words that sound like grate
Questions about saying grate
How do you pronounce grate?
Say GRAYT. The American pronunciation is /ɡreɪt/. In British English it is /ɡreɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in grate?
Grate is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: GRAYT.
Do Americans and Brits say grate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɡreɪt/ and the British form is /ɡreɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as grate?
Grate sounds the same as great in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.