How to pronounce state
Say it like STAYT. State is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- STAYT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
State pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STAYTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of state
American and British speakers say state in essentially the same way: /steɪt/ in the US and /steɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: STAYT.
What does state mean?
- the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation“his state is in the deep south”
- the way something is with respect to its main attributes“the current state of knowledge”“his state of health”
- the group of people comprising the government of a sovereign state“the state has lowered its income tax”
- express in words“He said that he wanted to marry her”“tell me what is bothering you”
- put before“I submit to you that the accused is guilty”
- indicate through a symbol, formula, etc.“Can you express this distance in kilometers?”
Where does state come from?
From Middle English stat (as a noun); adopted c.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with state
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of state.
Questions about saying state
How do you pronounce state?
Say STAYT. The American pronunciation is /steɪt/. In British English it is /steɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in state?
State is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: STAYT.
Do Americans and Brits say state the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /steɪt/ and the British form is /steɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.