How to pronounce sabotage
Say it like SAB-uh-tahzh. Sabotage has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAB).
VoiceSpeed
US American/ˈsæbəˌtɑʒ/SAB-uh-tahzh
UK British/ˈsæbəˌtɑːʒ/SAB-uh-tahzh
- SAB
- uh
- tahzh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Ends with the soft 'zh' sound: 'SAB-uh-tahzh'.
Sabotage pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SABSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- tahzhGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of sabotage
- British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat.
British respelling: SAB-uh-tahzh.
What does sabotage mean?
noun
- A deliberate action aimed at weakening someone (or something, a nation, etc) or preventing them from being successful, through subversion, obstruction, disruption, and/or destruction.
- To deliberately destroy or damage something in order to prevent it from being successful.“The railway line had been sabotaged by enemy commandos.”
Where does sabotage come from?
Unadapted borrowing from French sabotage.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- undermine
- countermine
- counteract
- subvert
- weaken
Questions about saying sabotage
How do you pronounce sabotage?
Say SAB-uh-tahzh. The American pronunciation is /ˈsæbəˌtɑʒ/. In British English it is /ˈsæbəˌtɑːʒ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sabotage?
Sabotage has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAB). Broken into parts: SAB · uh · tahzh.
Is sabotage pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat. The British form is /ˈsæbəˌtɑːʒ/ (SAB-uh-tahzh).