How to pronounce lubricate
Say it like LOO-brih-kayt. Lubricate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lubricate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LOO
- brih
- kayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lubricate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- brihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- kaytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of lubricate
American and British speakers say lubricate in essentially the same way: /ˈlubrɪˌkeɪt/ in the US and /ˈluːbrɪˌkeɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: LOO-brih-kayt.
What does lubricate mean?
- To make slippery or smooth (normally to minimize friction) by applying a lubricant.“If your bicycle chain is squeaking you should lubricate it.”
- To cause someone to become drunk, especially to make them more sociable or talkative.
Where does lubricate come from?
Borrowed from Latin lūbricātus, perfect passive participle of lūbricō (“make slippery”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more), from lūbricus (“slippery”).
Questions about saying lubricate
How do you pronounce lubricate?
Say LOO-brih-kayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈlubrɪˌkeɪt/. In British English it is /ˈluːbrɪˌkeɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lubricate?
Lubricate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LOO). Broken into parts: LOO · brih · kayt.
Do Americans and Brits say lubricate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlubrɪˌkeɪt/ and the British form is /ˈluːbrɪˌkeɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.