How to pronounce tolerate
Say it like TOL-uh-rayt. Tolerate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tolerate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TOL
- uh
- rayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tolerate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TOLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- raytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of tolerate
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: TOL-uh-rayt.
What does tolerate mean?
- put up with something or somebody unpleasant“I cannot bear his constant criticism”“The new secretary had to endure a lot of unprofessional remarks”
- recognize and respect (rights and beliefs of others)“We must tolerate the religions of others”
- have a tolerance for a poison or strong drug or pathogen or environmental condition“The patient does not tolerate the anti-inflammatory drugs we gave him”
Where does tolerate come from?
Borrowed from Latin tolerātus, the perfect passive participle of tolerō (“to endure”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying tolerate
How do you pronounce tolerate?
Say TOL-uh-rayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɑləˌreɪt/. In British English it is /ˈtɒləˌreɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tolerate?
Tolerate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOL). Broken into parts: TOL · uh · rayt.
Is tolerate pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈtɒləˌreɪt/ (TOL-uh-rayt).