How to pronounce vegetate
Say it like VEJ-uh-tayt. Vegetate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VEJ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce vegetate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- VEJ
- uh
- tayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Vegetate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- VEJSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- taytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of vegetate
American and British speakers say vegetate in essentially the same way: /ˈvɛdʒəˌteɪt/ in the US and /ˈvɛdʒəˌteɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: VEJ-uh-tayt.
What does vegetate mean?
- To grow or sprout.
- To spread abnormally.
- To live or spend a period of time in a dull, inactive, unchallenging way.
Where does vegetate come from?
Borrowed from Latin vegetātus, perfect passive participle of vegetō (“to enliven, to arouse”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).
Questions about saying vegetate
How do you pronounce vegetate?
Say VEJ-uh-tayt. The American pronunciation is /ˈvɛdʒəˌteɪt/. In British English it is /ˈvɛdʒəˌteɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in vegetate?
Vegetate has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VEJ). Broken into parts: VEJ · uh · tayt.
Do Americans and Brits say vegetate the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈvɛdʒəˌteɪt/ and the British form is /ˈvɛdʒəˌteɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.