How to pronounce impersonate
Say it like im-PUR-suh-nayt. Impersonate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce impersonate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- im
- PUR
- suh
- nayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Impersonate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- imGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- PURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- naytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of impersonate
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: im-PUR-suh-nayt.
What does impersonate mean?
- To pretend to be (a different person); to assume the identity of, especially when there is an intent to deceive.“The conman managed to impersonate several executives.”
- To operate with the permissions of a different user account.
Where does impersonate come from?
From im- + person + -ate (verb-forming suffix).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying impersonate
How do you pronounce impersonate?
Say im-PUR-suh-nayt. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪmˈpɝsəˌneɪt/. In British English it is /ˌɪmˈpɜːsəˌneɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in impersonate?
Impersonate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PUR). Broken into parts: im · PUR · suh · nayt.
Is impersonate 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 /ˌɪmˈpɜːsəˌneɪt/ (im-PUR-suh-nayt).