How to pronounce slate
Say it like SLAYT. Slate is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce slate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SLAYT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Slate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SLAYTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of slate
American and British speakers say slate in essentially the same way: /sleɪt/ in the US and /sleɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: SLAYT.
What does slate mean?
- (formerly) a writing tablet made of slate
- thin layers of rock used for roofing
- a fine-grained metamorphic rock that can be split into thin layers
- designate or schedule“He slated his talk for 9 AM”“She was slated to be his successor”
- enter on a list or slate for an election“He was slated for borough president”
- cover with slate“slate the roof”
Where does slate come from?
The adjective and verb are derived from the noun.
Words that rhyme with slate
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of slate.
Questions about saying slate
How do you pronounce slate?
Say SLAYT. The American pronunciation is /sleɪt/. In British English it is /sleɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in slate?
Slate is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SLAYT.
Do Americans and Brits say slate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /sleɪt/ and the British form is /sleɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.