How to pronounce perforate
Say it like PUR-fuh-rayt. Perforate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce perforate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PUR
- fuh
- rayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Perforate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- fuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- raytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of perforate
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: PUR-fuh-rayt.
What does perforate mean?
- IPA⁽ᵏᵉʸ⁾: /ˈpɜː.fə.ɹeɪt/
- IPA⁽ᵏᵉʸ⁾: /ˈpɝ.fɚ.eɪt/
- Audio (US): (file)
- To pierce; to penetrate.
- To make a line of holes in (a thin material) to allow separation at the line.“to perforate a sheet of postage stamps”
- IPA⁽ᵏᵉʸ⁾: /ˈpɜː.fə.ɹət/
- IPA⁽ᵏᵉʸ⁾: /ˈpɝ.fɚ.ət/
Where does perforate come from?
passive participle of perforō (“to bore or pierce through, to perforate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from per- (“through, thorough”) + forō (“to bore, pierce”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying perforate
How do you pronounce perforate?
Say PUR-fuh-rayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɝfəˌreɪt/. In British English it is /ˈpɜːfəˌreɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in perforate?
Perforate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PUR). Broken into parts: PUR · fuh · rayt.
Is perforate 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 /ˈpɜːfəˌreɪt/ (PUR-fuh-rayt).