How to pronounce hate
Say it like HAYT. Hate is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- HAYT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HAYTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of hate
American and British speakers say hate in essentially the same way: /heɪt/ in the US and /heɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: HAYT.
What does hate mean?
- An object of hatred.“One of my pet hates is traffic wardens.”
- Hatred.“He gave me a look filled with pure hate.”
- Bigotry.“The corporation said it would not tolerate hate.”
- To dislike intensely or greatly.“As a kid, I used to hate to cycle to school every morning.”
- To experience a feeling of hatred.
- Used in a phrasal verb: hate on.“I put ranch dressing on pizza. Please don't hate on me.”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with hate
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hate.
Words that sound like hate
- haight
Questions about saying hate
How do you pronounce hate?
Say HAYT. The American pronunciation is /heɪt/. In British English it is /heɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hate?
Hate is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: HAYT.
Do Americans and Brits say hate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /heɪt/ and the British form is /heɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as hate?
Hate sounds the same as haight in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.