How to pronounce senate
Say it like SEN-ut. Senate has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce senate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SEN
- ut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Senate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- utKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of senate
American and British speakers say senate in essentially the same way: /ˈsɛnət/ in the US and /ˈsɛnɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: SEN-it.
What does senate mean?
- assembly possessing high legislative powers
- the upper house of the United States Congress
Where does senate come from?
From Middle English senat, from Old French senat, from Latin senātus (“council of elders; a senate”), from senex (“old”).
Words that rhyme with senate
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of senate.
Questions about saying senate
How do you pronounce senate?
Say SEN-ut. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɛnət/. In British English it is /ˈsɛnɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in senate?
Senate has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEN). Broken into parts: SEN · ut.
Do Americans and Brits say senate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɛnət/ and the British form is /ˈsɛnɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.