How to pronounce mate
Say it like MAYT. Mate is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
VoiceSpeed
US American/meɪt/MAYT
UK British/meɪt/MAYT
- MAYT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MAYTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of mate
American and British speakers say mate in essentially the same way: /meɪt/ in the US and /meɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: MAYT.
What does mate mean?
noun
- A fellow, comrade, colleague, partner or someone with whom something is shared, e.g. shipmate, classmate.
- A breeding partner.
- A friend, usually of the same sex.“I'm going to the pub with a few mates.”
- To match, fit together without space between.“The pieces of the puzzle mate perfectly.”
- To pair in order to raise offspring.
- To arrange in matched pairs.
- Alternative spelling of maté, an aromatic tea-like drink prepared from the holly yerba maté (Ilex paraguariensis).
- The abovementioned plant; the leaves and shoots used for the tea
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
- demate
Words that rhyme with mate
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mate.
Questions about saying mate
How do you pronounce mate?
Say MAYT. The American pronunciation is /meɪt/. In British English it is /meɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mate?
Mate is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: MAYT.
Do Americans and Brits say mate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /meɪt/ and the British form is /meɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.