3 syllables: Co, gi, tate. Stress on Co.
KAH-jit-ayt
/ˈkɑdʒɪˌteɪt/
Cogitate is pronounced KAH-jit-ayt (/ˈkɑdʒɪˌteɪt/). It has three syllables (Co-gi-tate), with the stress on "Co". Cogitate is a verb meaning to think deeply about something; to ponder or reflect carefully. It implies sustained, deliberate consideration rather than casual musing, often involving analysis before deciding. The term carries a formal or scholastic tone and is commonly used in academic, philosophical, or reflective contexts.
verbCogitate is a verb meaning to think deeply about something; to ponder or reflect carefully. It implies sustained, deliberate consideration rather than casual musing, often involving analysis before deciding. The term carries a formal or scholastic tone and is commonly used in academic, philosophical, or reflective contexts.
How to Pronounce Cogitate
"The committee sat in silence, cogitating the implications of the new policy."
"She spent the afternoon cogitating the best course of action before presenting her proposal."
"Researchers must cogitate the data patterns before drawing conclusions."
Pronounce as /ˈkɒ.dʒɪ.teɪt/ (US/UK) with primary stress on the first syllable: COG-i-tate. The middle syllable has a soft /dʒ/ as in 'judge', so it sounds like 'kog-ih-tayt'. For Australian speakers, the /ɒ/ often shifts toward /ɔː/, but the /dʒ/ remains clear. Practice by saying: COG - i - tate, emphasizing the first syllable and ending with a clear /teɪt/. Audio references: Cambridge/OWL pronunciation tools and Forvo entries can provide native speaker examples.
Two common errors are misplacing stress and mispronouncing the /dʒ/ as /tʃ/ or /d͡ʒ/. Also, some learners truncate the final /eɪt/ to /eɪ/ or blur it to /ət/. Corrective tips: keep primary stress on the first syllable: COG-i-tate, with a crisp /dʒ/ as in 'judge', and end clearly with /teɪt/ rather than /tə/. Emphasize the long diphthong in the final syllable: /teɪt/ rather than a short /tət/.
In US/UK, the initial vowel of the first syllable is a short 'o' as in 'cot' for many speakers, producing /ˈkɒ.dʒɪ.teɪt/. Australians may show slight vowel shifts in /ɒ/ toward /ɔː/ and a crisper /t/ at the end. The /dʒ/ cluster remains /dʒ/ in all three, but some UK speakers may articulate a more centralized /ɜː/ in the second syllable when connected speech occurs. Overall: stress on the first syllable, clear /dʒ/ and final /eɪt/, with subtle vowel differences by region.
Difficulties come from the initial stressed syllable's vowel and the mid /dʒ/ blend, which requires precise tongue position: a voiced palatoalveolar affricate /dʒ/ followed by the high front vowel /ɪ/ in the second syllable and a final tense diphthong /eɪt/. Learners often merge /ɒ/ with /ɑ/ or /**/ misarticulate /dʒ/. Focusing on separating the syllables: COG - I - TATE, and isolating the /dʒ/ by placing the front tongue against the palate with a brief friction sound, helps increase accuracy.
The word uniquely combines a heavy initial syllable with a light final prolonged diphthong. The final /teɪt/ should feel tense and extended, not reduced to /tət/. Also, avoid delaying the /ɪ/ in the second syllable; keep it short but clear to prevent a two-syllable miscount. Finally, ensure the first syllable carries the primary stress and ends with a crisp /k/ before the /ɪ/.
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Cogitate originates from the Latin cogitatus, the past participle of cogitare, meaning to think or to consider. Cogitare is a compound of co-, intensive prefix meaning 'together' or 'with', and agitare 'to drive' or 'to drive thoughts'. The word entered English through borrowed Latin forms during the Renaissance as scholars revived classical vocabulary related to reasoning and philosophy. Early uses appeared in medical or scholastic treatises as a way to describe deep mental activity. By the 18th and 19th centuries, cogitate was commonly used in philosophical and literary contexts to convey careful thinking and rational consideration. Its elevated tone remains in serious academic discourse, though it is also encountered in prose seeking a formal register. The word is often paired with verbs like “deliberate,” “ponder,” or “reflect,” emphasizing the mental process of weighing options before action. First known English appearances are attested in late medieval manuscripts and early modern English commentary on reasoning and ethics, with the sense refining toward a general meaning of thinking something through deliberately.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Cogitate" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Cogitate"
-ate sounds
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