How to pronounce incarcerate
Say it like in-KAR-suh-rayt. Incarcerate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce incarcerate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- KAR
- suh
- rayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Incarcerate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- inKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- KARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- raytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of incarcerate
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: in-KAH-suh-rayt.
What does incarcerate mean?
- To lock away; to imprison, especially for breaking the law.
- To confine; to shut up or enclose; to hem in.
Where does incarcerate come from?
The adjective is first attested in 1528, the verb in 1575; borrowed from Medieval Latin incarcerātus, perfect passive participle of incarcerō (“to imprison”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from Latin i
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying incarcerate
How do you pronounce incarcerate?
Say in-KAR-suh-rayt. The American pronunciation is /ɪnˈkɑrsəˌreɪt/. In British English it is /ɪnˈkɑːsəˌreɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in incarcerate?
Incarcerate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAR). Broken into parts: in · KAR · suh · rayt.
Is incarcerate 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 /ɪnˈkɑːsəˌreɪt/ (in-KAH-suh-rayt).