How to pronounce orchestrate
Say it like OR-kuh-strayt. Orchestrate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce orchestrate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OR
- kuh
- strayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Orchestrate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- straytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of orchestrate
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: AW-kuh-strayt.
What does orchestrate mean?
- To arrange or score music for performance by an orchestra.
- To compose or arrange orchestral music for a dramatic performance.“Sergio Leone orchestrated "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly".”
- To arrange or direct diverse elements to achieve a desired effect“Orchestrated histories are not fact-based.”
Where does orchestrate come from?
From orchestra + -ate (verb-forming suffix).
Questions about saying orchestrate
How do you pronounce orchestrate?
Say OR-kuh-strayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈɔrkəˌstreɪt/. In British English it is /ˈɔːkəstreɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in orchestrate?
Orchestrate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OR). Broken into parts: OR · kuh · strayt.
Is orchestrate pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈɔːkəstreɪt/ (AW-kuh-strayt).