How to pronounce provoke
Say it like pruh-VOHK. Provoke has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VOHK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce provoke. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pruh
- VOHK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Provoke pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- VOHKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of provoke
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: pruh-VOHK.
What does provoke mean?
- call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)“arouse pity”“raise a smile”
- evoke or provoke to appear or occur“Her behavior provoked a quarrel between the couple”
- provide the needed stimulus for
Where does provoke come from?
Borrowed from Middle French provoquer, from Old French, from Latin prōvocāre.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with provoke
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of provoke.
Questions about saying provoke
How do you pronounce provoke?
Say pruh-VOHK. The American pronunciation is /prəˈvoʊk/. In British English it is /prəˈvəʊk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in provoke?
Provoke has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VOHK). Broken into parts: pruh · VOHK.
Is provoke 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 /prəˈvəʊk/ (pruh-VOHK).