How to pronounce reverberate
Say it like ruh-VUR-buh-rayt. Reverberate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce reverberate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ruh
- VUR
- buh
- rayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Reverberate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- VURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- buhKeep 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 reverberate
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: rih-VUR-buh-rayt.
What does reverberate mean?
- To cause (a sound) to be (repeatedly) bounced against one or more surfaces; to re-echo.
- Followed by on (to): to deflect or divert (flames, heat, etc.) on to something.“Flame is reverberated in a furnace.”
- To repeatedly reflect (heat, light, or other radiation).
- Synonym of reverberant (“that tends to reverberate (“(repeatedly) bounce against one or more surfaces”) or has reverberated”); re-echoed.
- Ringing or vibrating with many echoing sounds; re-echoing, resounding, reverberating.
Where does reverberate come from?
Borrowed from Latin reverberātus, perfect passive participle of reverberō (“to rebound; to reflect; to repel”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), whence Middle French reverberer (French réverbérer) and Middle English reverberen (“to send bac
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying reverberate
How do you pronounce reverberate?
Say ruh-VUR-buh-rayt. The American pronunciation is /rəˈvɝbəˌreɪt/. In British English it is /rɪˈvɜːbəˌreɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in reverberate?
Reverberate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VUR). Broken into parts: ruh · VUR · buh · rayt.
Is reverberate 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 /rɪˈvɜːbəˌreɪt/ (rih-VUR-buh-rayt).