How to pronounce reciprocate
Say it like rih-SIP-ruh-kayt. Reciprocate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SIP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce reciprocate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- SIP
- ruh
- kayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Reciprocate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- rihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- SIPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- kaytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of reciprocate
American and British speakers say reciprocate in essentially the same way: /rɪˈsɪprəˌkeɪt/ in the US and /rɪˈsɪprəˌkeɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-SIP-ruh-kayt.
What does reciprocate mean?
- To exchange two things, with both parties giving one thing and taking another thing.
- To give something else in response (where the "thing" may also be abstract, a feeling or action) To make a reciprocal gift.“I gave them apples from my tree; they reciprocated with a pie and some apple jelly.”
- To move backwards and forwards, like a piston.“a reciprocating engine”
Where does reciprocate come from?
From Latin recīprocātus, perfect passive participle of recīprocō (“to move back and forth”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from reciprocus (“back an forth, reciprocal, alternating”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix), itself po
Questions about saying reciprocate
How do you pronounce reciprocate?
Say rih-SIP-ruh-kayt. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈsɪprəˌkeɪt/. In British English it is /rɪˈsɪprəˌkeɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in reciprocate?
Reciprocate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SIP). Broken into parts: rih · SIP · ruh · kayt.
Do Americans and Brits say reciprocate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪˈsɪprəˌkeɪt/ and the British form is /rɪˈsɪprəˌkeɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.