How to pronounce motivate
Say it like MOH-tuh-vayt. Motivate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce motivate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MOH
- tuh
- vayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Motivate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- vaytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of motivate
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: MOH-tih-vayt.
What does motivate mean?
- give an incentive for action“This moved me to sacrifice my career”
Where does motivate come from?
From motive + -ate (verb-forming suffix).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying motivate
How do you pronounce motivate?
Say MOH-tuh-vayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈmoʊtəˌveɪt/. In British English it is /ˈməʊtɪˌveɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in motivate?
Motivate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOH). Broken into parts: MOH · tuh · vayt.
Is motivate pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈməʊtɪˌveɪt/ (MOH-tih-vayt).