2 syllables: Cit, rate. Stress on Cit.
SIT-rayt
/ˈsɪtɹeɪt/
Citrate is pronounced SIT-rayt (/ˈsɪtɹeɪt/). It has two syllables (Cit-rate), with the stress on "Cit". Citrate is a sodium or potassium salt of citric acid, used physiologically as a buffering agent and in metabolism. It also refers to any salt or ester of citric acid. In chemistry and biology contexts, citrate often appears as a precursor or intermediate in metabolic pathways and in food additives as a flavor enhancer or preservative.
nounCitrate is a sodium or potassium salt of citric acid, used physiologically as a buffering agent and in metabolism. It also refers to any salt or ester of citric acid. In chemistry and biology contexts, citrate often appears as a precursor or intermediate in metabolic pathways and in food additives as a flavor enhancer or preservative.
- Misplacing stress: Citrate is stressed on the first syllable (CIT-rate). Ensure the second syllable carries the long /eɪ/ quality rather than a reduced vowel. - Vowel quality mismatch: First vowel should be /ɪ/ (as in sit), not /ɪː/ or /ɪə/. Practice by saying SIT and then quickly adding /reɪt/. - Final consonant crispness: Don’t soften /t/ to a d or a light alveolar stop. End with a crisp /t/. Exercise with slow to fast tempo to lock the final stop.
How to Pronounce Citrate
"The doctor ordered a citrate solution to adjust the patient’s blood chemistry."
"Citrate acts as a buffer in the citrate/phosphate buffer system used in labs."
"Citric acid is converted to citrate in the citric acid cycle, a central energy-producing pathway."
Citrate is pronounced /ˈsɪˌtreɪt/ in both US and UK English, with the primary stress on the first syllable. Each syllable is clearly articulated: the first sounds like 'SIT' without a strong vowel, and the second rhymes with “rate.” The IPA for US/UK is /ˈsɪˌtreɪt/. In careful speech, you can emphasize the two-syllable rhythm: SIT-rtate, but the common pronunciation collapses to two syllables: SIT-rate. For audio reference, you can compare to ‘ citrate’ spoken in medical lectures or chemistry tutorials on YouTube.
Common mistakes include reducing the first syllable too much (sigh-TEET instead of SIT-rate) and misplacing stress, leading to SI-trate or si-TREIT. Another frequent error is slight vowel misquality in the second syllable, sounding like ‘cite-rate’ or ‘sih-rate’ rather than the clear /treɪt/ as in rate. To correct, emphasize the short /ɪ/ in the first syllable and the long /eɪ/ in the second, finishing with a clean /t/ at the end. Practice by isolating the second syllable as a stressed ‘rate.’
In US and UK, citrate uses /ˈsɪˌtreɪt/, with two syllables and a rhotic vs non-rhotic difference not affecting this word much since it ends in /t/. US tends to a crisper /ˈsɪˌtreɪt/, UK similar, but some speakers may lightly de-emphasize the second syllable. Australian speakers often preserve the same two-syllable pattern, but may reduce the first vowel slightly and produce a slightly longer /eɪ/ in lab contexts. Overall, the core is /ˈsɪˌtreɪt/ across these accents.
The difficulty lies in the two-syllable rhythm and the diphthong /eɪ/ in the second syllable, which can tilt into a schwa in fast speech. The consonant cluster /t/ at the end must be precise, not softened. Some speakers may run the two syllables together or misplace the primary stress, saying si-TRATE or SIT-rate incorrectly. Focusing on a clear /ɪ/ in the first syllable and a crisp /eɪ/ in the second, with a final /t/, helps stabilize pronunciation.
The first syllable 'cit' has a short, clipped quality similar to 'sit,' but in citrate it is not an independent word; it’s part of a two-syllable morpheme with primary stress on the first syllable. You should produce a light, quick /ɪ/ in the second consonant cluster and avoid a long vowel in the first syllable. Think SIT-rate, with a narrower kick on the initial /s/ and a stable /ɪ/ before the /t/.
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- US: /ˈsɪˌtreɪt/ with clear /ɪ/ and /eɪ/. Maintain rhoticity elsewhere in connected speech but citrate itself ends with a hard /t/. - UK: /ˈsɪˌtreɪt/ similar, sometimes a slightly shorter first vowel and a more clipped final /t/. - AU: /ˈsɪˌtreɪt/, often with less vowel reduction and a more relaxed jaw position; keep the /eɪ/ prominent. IPA reminders: /ˈsɪˌtreɪt/ for all three accents. - Vowel specifics: /ɪ/ as in “sit,” /eɪ/ as in “rain,” heavy final /t/. - Mouth positions: Start with a slight spread on /s/, place tongue near the alveolar ridge, keep lips neutral, finish with a crisp /t/.
Citrate derives from citric acid, the sour-tasting compound found in citrus fruits. The word citrate is formed by adding the -ate suffix, which denotes a salt or ester of a acid, to citric. Citric originates from Latin citricus meaning ‘of citrus,’ and before that from Greek kítros meaning ‘citrus fruit.’ The -ate form has been used in chemistry since the 18th and 19th centuries to name salts of organic acids. The first known use of citrate in English appeared in chemical and medical writings in the 19th century, aligning with the broader adoption of systematic naming for salts and esters. Over time, citrate has taken on specialized meanings in biology (citrate cycle), medicine (sodium citrate as an anticoagulant/puffer), and food science (sodium citrate as an additive). Today, citrate often signals a salt of citric acid in both lab protocols and clinical contexts, carrying connotations of buffering capacity and metabolic relevance.
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Help others use "Citrate" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Citrate" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Citrate" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Citrate"
-ate sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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