How to pronounce spate
Say it like SPAYT. Spate 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 spate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SPAYT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Spate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SPAYTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of spate
American and British speakers say spate in essentially the same way: /speɪt/ in the US and /speɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: SPAYT.
What does spate mean?
- A (sudden) flood or inundation of water; specifically, a flood in or overflow of a river or other watercourse due to heavy rain or melting snow; (uncountable, archaic) flooding, inundation.
- A sudden heavy downpour of rain.
- A sudden increase or rush of something; a flood, an outburst, an outpouring.
Where does spate come from?
The verb is derived from the noun, probably influenced by Scots spate (“to flood, swell; to rain heavily; (figurative) to scold fiercely”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with spate
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of spate.
Questions about saying spate
How do you pronounce spate?
Say SPAYT. The American pronunciation is /speɪt/. In British English it is /speɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in spate?
Spate is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SPAYT.
Do Americans and Brits say spate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /speɪt/ and the British form is /speɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.