4 syllables: com, mu, ni, cates. Stress on mu.
kuh-MYOO-nik-ayts
/kəˈmjunɪˌkeɪts/
communicates is pronounced kuh-MYOO-nik-ayts (/kəˈmjunɪˌkeɪts/). It has four syllables (com-mu-ni-cates), with the stress on "mu". Communicates is the verb form meaning to convey information or feelings to others. It typically appears as a third-person singular or plural present tense, as in 'she communicates clearly' or 'they communicate effectively.' The word emphasizes the act of transmitting meaning through speech, writing, or other signaling systems. It can also imply successful interpersonal signaling within a context or relationship.
Communicates is the verb form meaning to convey information or feelings to others. It typically appears as a third-person singular or plural present tense, as in 'she communicates clearly' or 'they communicate effectively.' The word emphasizes the act of transmitting meaning through speech, writing, or other signaling systems. It can also imply successful interpersonal signaling within a context or relationship.
"She communicates across cultural boundaries with surprising clarity."
"The team communicates project goals during daily standups."
"In his role, he communicates complex data in an accessible way."
pronounce as kə-MYOO-nə-kayts, with primary stress on the second syllable: /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.keɪts/ in US, /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.keɪts/ in UK; your lips round slightly for the /juː/ sequence and /eɪ/ at the end. Mouth starts relaxed, then raises the middle of the tongue to form /j/ after /m/. The final /ts/ sounds like a crisp 'ts' as in 'cats.' Audio references: consult Cambridge/Oxford pronunciations for audio confirmation, and Forvo for native samples.
Common errors include misplacing stress on the first syllable (co-MYOO-nə-kayts vs. kə-MYOO-nə-kayts) and slurring the /t/ into the /s/ making /-keits/ unclear. Another frequent issue is reducing the /j/ sound in -ju- to a plain /u/ or /ju/ blend. Correction: keep the stress on the second syllable, clearly pronounce /mjuː/ as a smooth /mjuː/ sequence, and enunciate the final /ts/ crisply. Practice with slow tempo and use minimal pairs to stabilize the /nɪ/ vs /nə/ distinction in the middle.
In US and UK, the /juː/ in -mi- typically has a rounded, palatal vowel quality; the main difference is rhotics and vowel length rather than a dramatic shift. US speakers tend toward a rhotic middle position; UK often features slightly more centralized vowel qualities in unstressed syllables. Australian tends to be less rhotic with a slightly broader jaw position; vowels can be more centralized and slower to drop the /ɪ/ into /ɪə/? not exactly; overall the /juː/ remains intact. Core is the /ˈmjuː/ vs /ˈmjuː/ sequences; the final -ates remains /eɪts/ in all three, but tempo and vowel quality vary slightly.
Difficulties center on the three-syllable rhythm and the cluster at the end -ates, which includes a final /t/ and /s/ producing a /ts/ sound. The /j/ sound after /m/ creates a quick palatal glide that can blur when spoken fast. The unstressed vowels in the first syllable can reduce to a schwa, which may mask the second syllable. Mastering the mid-word /ˈmjuː nɪ/ and crisp final /t s/ with clean separation is the key.
A unique challenge is maintaining the correct sequence /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.keɪts/ while not over-aspirating the /k/ and keeping the /j/ glide smooth between /m/ and /juː/. You’ll want to avoid a heavy pause after /m/ and ensure the middle syllable /nɪ/ clearly differentiates from /ni/ in rapid speech. Also, prevent merging the final /t/ with the following /s/ in rapid speech by isolating the final cluster with a light, quick release.
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Communicate comes from the Latin communicare, meaning to share or make common. The prefix com- means “with, together,” and -munic- derives from munis ‘service, duty’ via Latin munus, muneris ‘duty, function.’ Originally, communicate carried sense of sharing or making known a message, often in religious or social contexts. By the late 16th century, English usage broadened to include imparting information or exchanging ideas. The verb later extended to parallel senses in law, education, and technology, where devices and protocols enable signaling between people or systems. The -ates ending in 'communicates' reflects the standard third-person singular present tense form in English verb conjugation, following the regular morphology for verbs ending with -ate in derived forms. First known uses appear in early modern texts dealing with rhetoric and interpersonal exchange, evolving into contemporary usage across communication theory, media studies, and everyday speech.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "communicates" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "communicates"
-tes sounds
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