How to pronounce prostrate
Say it like PRAH-strayt. Prostrate has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PRAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce prostrate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PRAH
- strayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Prostrate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PRAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- straytKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of prostrate
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: PROS-trayt.
What does prostrate mean?
- To lie flat or face-down.
- To throw oneself down in submission.
- To cause to lie down, to flatten.
- Lying flat, face-down.
- Emotionally devastated.
- Physically incapacitated from environmental exposure or debilitating disease.“He was prostrate from the extreme heat.”
Where does prostrate come from?
From Middle English prostrat(e) (“prostrate”, also used as the past participle of prostraten), borrowed from Latin prōstrātus, perfect passive participle of prōsternō (“to prostrate”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying prostrate
How do you pronounce prostrate?
Say PRAH-strayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈprɑstreɪt/. In British English it is /ˈprɒstreɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in prostrate?
Prostrate has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PRAH). Broken into parts: PRAH · strayt.
Is prostrate pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈprɒstreɪt/ (PROS-trayt).