How to pronounce intimate
Say it like IN-tuh-mut. Intimate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (IN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce intimate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- IN
- tuh
- mut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Intimate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- INSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- mutKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of intimate
American and British speakers say intimate in essentially the same way: /ˈɪntəmət/ in the US and /ˈɪntɪmɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: IN-tih-mit.
What does intimate mean?
- marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity“intimate friend”“intimate relations between economics, politics, and legal principles”
- concerning things deeply private and personal“intimate correspondence”“private family matters”
- having or fostering a warm or friendly and informal atmosphere“had a cozy chat”“a relaxed informal manner”
- give to understand“I insinuated that I did not like his wife”
- imply as a possibility“The evidence suggests a need for more clarification”
- someone to whom private matters are confided
Where does intimate come from?
Borrowed from Latin intimātus, the perfect passive participle of intimō (“to put or bring into, to impress, to make familiar”) (see -ate (adjective forming suffix)), from intimus (“inmost, innermost, most intimate”), superlative of intus (“
Questions about saying intimate
How do you pronounce intimate?
Say IN-tuh-mut. The American pronunciation is /ˈɪntəmət/. In British English it is /ˈɪntɪmɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in intimate?
Intimate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (IN). Broken into parts: IN · tuh · mut.
Do Americans and Brits say intimate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɪntəmət/ and the British form is /ˈɪntɪmɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.