How to pronounce surrogate
Say it like SUR-ruh-gut. Surrogate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce surrogate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SUR
- ruh
- gut
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Surrogate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SURSay this part loudest and longest.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- gutKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of surrogate
American and British speakers say surrogate in essentially the same way: /ˈsɜrəɡət/ in the US and /ˈsʌrəɡɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: SUHR-uh-ghit.
What does surrogate mean?
- A substitute (usually of a person, position or role).“A mixture of horseradish and mustard often serves as a surrogate for wasabi.”
- A person or animal that acts as a substitute for the social or pastoral role of another, such as a surrogate parent.
- A deputy for a bishop in granting licences for marriage.
- Of, concerning, relating to or acting as a substitute.
- To replace or substitute something with something else; to appoint a successor.
Where does surrogate come from?
From Latin surrogātus, perfect passive participle of surrogō (“to choose someone as a substitute”); a variant of subrogō, from sub (“under”) + rogō (“ask”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying surrogate
How do you pronounce surrogate?
Say SUR-ruh-gut. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɜrəɡət/. In British English it is /ˈsʌrəɡɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in surrogate?
Surrogate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUR). Broken into parts: SUR · ruh · gut.
Do Americans and Brits say surrogate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɜrəɡət/ and the British form is /ˈsʌrəɡɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.