How to pronounce hesitate
Say it like HEZ-uh-tayt. Hesitate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HEZ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hesitate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HEZ
- uh
- tayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hesitate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HEZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- taytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of hesitate
American and British speakers say hesitate in essentially the same way: /ˈhɛzəˌteɪt/ in the US and /ˈhɛzɪˌteɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: HEZ-ih-tayt.
What does hesitate mean?
- pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness“Authorities hesitate to quote exact figures”
- interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing“The speaker paused”
Where does hesitate come from?
Borrowed from Latin haesitātus, perfect passive participle of haesitō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), intensive of haereō (“to hesitate, stick fast; to hang or hold fast”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying hesitate
How do you pronounce hesitate?
Say HEZ-uh-tayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɛzəˌteɪt/. In British English it is /ˈhɛzɪˌteɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hesitate?
Hesitate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HEZ). Broken into parts: HEZ · uh · tayt.
Do Americans and Brits say hesitate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhɛzəˌteɪt/ and the British form is /ˈhɛzɪˌteɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.