How to pronounce potentate
Say it like POH-tun-tayt. Potentate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce potentate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- POH
- tun
- tayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Potentate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- POHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- tunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- taytKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of potentate
- 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: POH-tun-tayt.
What does potentate mean?
- A powerful leader; a monarch; a ruler.
- A powerful polity or institution.
- Someone acting in an important role.
Where does potentate come from?
From Middle English potentat, from Old French, from Late Latin potentātus (“rule, political power”), from Latin potēns (“powerful, strong”), the active present participle of possum (“to be able”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying potentate
How do you pronounce potentate?
Say POH-tun-tayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈpoʊtənteɪt/. In British English it is /ˈpəʊtənteɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in potentate?
Potentate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POH). Broken into parts: POH · tun · tayt.
Is potentate 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 /ˈpəʊtənteɪt/ (POH-tun-tayt).