How to pronounce scapegoat
Say it like SKAYP-goht. Scapegoat has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKAYP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce scapegoat. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SKAYP
- goht
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Scapegoat pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SKAYPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- gohtGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of scapegoat
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: SKAYP-goht.
What does scapegoat mean?
- In the Mosaic Day of Atonement ritual, a goat symbolically imbued with the sins of the people, and sent out alive into the wilderness while another was sacrificed.
- Someone unfairly blamed or punished for some failure.
- To unfairly blame or punish someone for some failure; to make a scapegoat of.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying scapegoat
How do you pronounce scapegoat?
Say SKAYP-goht. The American pronunciation is /ˈskeɪpˌɡoʊt/. In British English it is /ˈskeɪpˌɡəʊt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in scapegoat?
Scapegoat has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKAYP). Broken into parts: SKAYP · goht.
Is scapegoat 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 /ˈskeɪpˌɡəʊt/ (SKAYP-goht).