3 syllables: Ad, vo, cate. Stress on Ad.
AD-vuh-kuht
/ˈædvəkət/
Advocate is pronounced AD-vuh-kuht (/ˈædvəkət/). It has three syllables (Ad-vo-cate), with the stress on "Ad". Advocate can function as both a noun and a verb, meaning a person who publicly supports a cause or policy, or to publicly recommend or support something. As a noun, it often denotes a spokesperson or champion; as a verb, it emphasizes active promotion or defense of an idea or person. In formal contexts you may encounter “advocate for” or “advocate (that)…” in policy, law, or organizational settings.
nounAdvocate can function as both a noun and a verb, meaning a person who publicly supports a cause or policy, or to publicly recommend or support something. As a noun, it often denotes a spokesperson or champion; as a verb, it emphasizes active promotion or defense of an idea or person. In formal contexts you may encounter “advocate for” or “advocate (that)…” in policy, law, or organizational settings.
- You might stress the second syllable unintentionally or drop the second syllable entirely. Pay attention to the vowel in the middle: /ə/ or /əˈ/ should be clear enough to distinguish from /æ/; - Final cluster can be reduced to /t/ or /ət/; be deliberate about ending with a crisp /t/ or a light /t/; - Middle consonants can blur, leading to /d/ or /v/ loss; practice slowly to prevent it.
How to Pronounce Advocate
"As a patient advocate, she ensures the rights and preferences of clients are respected."
"The NGO advocates for climate justice and sustainable policy reforms."
"He was an early advocate of data privacy and digital rights."
US: /ˈæd.və.kət/ or /ˈæd.vəˌkeɪt/ with stress on the first syllable for the noun and more even distribution for the verb; UK: /ˈæd.və.keɪt/ with primary stress on the first syllable; AU: /ˈæd.vəˌkeɪt/. Keytips: start with /ˈæ/ (as in 'cat'), follow with schwa /ə/ in the second syllable, and end with /kət/ or /keɪt/ depending on the variant. Audio references: consult Forvo or YouGlish entries for real-world pronunciations.
Common errors: 1) misplacing stress, saying /ædˈvokət/ or /ˈæd.vəˌkæt/ instead of the preferred /ˈæd.vəˌkeɪt/ or /ˈæd.və.kət/. 2) reducing the middle syllable too much, producing /ˈæd.vət/; 3) mispronouncing final consonant as /t/ or /d/ instead of /t/ or /ət/ depending on form. Corrections: emphasize the second syllable plate as /və/ and end with /keɪt/ or /kət/ per variant, keep final consonant crisp, and practice aligning syllable timing.
US tends to use /ˈæd.vəˌkeɪt/ with a clearer /keɪt/ ending in many speakers, while some avoid the diphthong collapse by keeping /ˈæd.və.kət/ in careful speech. UK often favors /ˈæd.və.keɪt/ with stress on the first syllable and a pronounced /keɪt/ end. Australian English is similar to US in the final /keɪt/ or /kət/ with a slightly flatter vowel in the first /æ/ and /ə/ vowels. Emphasis on the second syllable in the verb forms may appear in some dialects.
Because it has a three-syllable rhythm with a mid-central vowel in the second syllable and a final consonant cluster that can be reduced depending on dialect. The /æ/ vs /a/ vowel in the first syllable and the /ə/ middle vowel can be tricky for non-native speakers, as can choosing between /ˈæd.və.kət/ and /ˈæd.və.keɪt/. Consistent mouth position through the three syllables helps avoid stumbles.
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US: /ˈæd.vəˌkeɪt/; non-rhotic? Most US speakers rhyme the final with -ayt; UK: /ˈæd.və.keɪt/ with clearer final diphthong; AU: /ˈæd.vəˌkeɪt/ with slightly flatter vowels and stronger final /t/; Vowels: /æ/ as in cat, /ə/ schwa, /eɪ/ as in day; Final /t/ is a crisp alveolar stop; Some US variants may merge /ˌkeɪt/? into /kət/ in casual speech.
Advocate originates from the Latin advocate, from advocatus, the past participle of advocare, meaning to call to one’s aid or to appeal for help. The Latin root ad- meaning toward + vocare meaning to summon, call, or voice. The term entered English in the 14th century via Old French advocate, preserving the sense of one who speaks in favor of someone or something. Its semantic trajectory moved from the legal origin (a person who speaks on behalf of a client in court) to broader civic use, where advocate denotes anyone who publicly supports or pleads a cause. By the 18th century, advocate also appeared as a verb in English, meaning to plead or argue in favor of a policy, idea, or person. In modern usage, advocate spans professional, political, and everyday activism contexts, with subtle shifts in emphasis between speaking up for others and actively promoting a policy or position. The noun form often carries connotations of formality, advocacy work, or legal representation. The pronunciation has long held stress on the first syllable in British English, with some regional variation in the final -cate consonant cluster becoming -kit in certain dialects, while American English tends toward a clearer final -vate sound. First known use recorded in the 14th century with related forms in education and law.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Advocate" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Advocate" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Advocate"
-ade sounds
-ate sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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