How to pronounce mediate
Say it like MEE-dee-ayt. Mediate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mediate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MEE
- dee
- ayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mediate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- deeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- aytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of mediate
American and British speakers say mediate in essentially the same way: /ˈmidiˌeɪt/ in the US and /ˈmiːdɪˌeɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: MEE-dih-ayt.
What does mediate mean?
- To resolve differences, or to bring about a settlement, between conflicting parties.“Negotiators managed to mediate a ceasefire.”
- To intervene between conflicting parties in order to resolve differences or bring about a settlement.
- To divide into two equal parts.
- Acting through a mediating agency, indirect.
- Intermediate between extremes.
- Gained or effected by a medium or condition.
Where does mediate come from?
The adjective is first attested in the 1440s in Middle English, the verb in 1538; from Middle English mediat(e) (“intermediate; intercessory”), borrowed from Late Latin mediātus, perfect passive participle of mediō (“to divide in the middle
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying mediate
How do you pronounce mediate?
Say MEE-dee-ayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈmidiˌeɪt/. In British English it is /ˈmiːdɪˌeɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mediate?
Mediate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEE). Broken into parts: MEE · dee · ayt.
Do Americans and Brits say mediate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmidiˌeɪt/ and the British form is /ˈmiːdɪˌeɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.