How to pronounce litigate
Say it like LIT-ih-gayt. Litigate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce litigate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LIT
- ih
- gayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Litigate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LITSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- gaytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of litigate
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: LIT-ih-gayt.
What does litigate mean?
- To go to law; to carry on a lawsuit.
- To contest in law.
- To dispute; to fight over.“You can't keep litigating this same point!”
Where does litigate come from?
First attested in 1606; borrowed from Latin lītigātus, perfect passive participle of lītigō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from līs (“a lawsuit”, oblique stem in līt-) + -igō (denominative verb-forming suffix).
Questions about saying litigate
How do you pronounce litigate?
Say LIT-ih-gayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɪtɪˌɡeɪt/. In British English it is /ˈlɪtɪˌɡeɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in litigate?
Litigate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIT). Broken into parts: LIT · ih · gayt.
Is litigate pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈlɪtɪˌɡeɪt/ (LIT-ih-gayt).