3 syllables: con, gre, gate. Stress on con.
KAHNG-gruh-gayt
/ˈkɑŋɡɹəˌɡeɪt/
congregate is pronounced KAHNG-gruh-gayt (/ˈkɑŋɡɹəˌɡeɪt/). It has three syllables (con-gre-gate), with the stress on "con". Congregate is a verb meaning to come together in a group or assembly, typically for a common purpose. It stresses gathering people or things in one place, often for discussion, worship, or social interaction. The term carries formal or neutral tone and is common in academic, organizational, or policy contexts.
Congregate is a verb meaning to come together in a group or assembly, typically for a common purpose. It stresses gathering people or things in one place, often for discussion, worship, or social interaction. The term carries formal or neutral tone and is common in academic, organizational, or policy contexts.
- You may naturalize the second syllable too quickly, turning con-GRĚ-gate into con-GRĪ-gate. Fix by clearly voicing /ɡr/ and holding /eɪt/ to land in the final syllable. - Another error is reducing the middle vowel to a quick /ɪ/ or /ə/ and flattening the rhythm, which makes it sound like ‘con-gi-gate.’ Practice with slow tempo to stabilize the middle vowel as /ɪ/ or /ɛ/ then accelerate. - Finally, the ending should be a crisp /eɪt/ rather than /ət/ or /eɪ/ without a hard /t/. Use a small but audible /t/ closure before the breath releases.
"The conference attendees will congregate in the main hall after lunch."
"Citizens gathered online to congregate in virtual town halls during the crisis."
"Religious leaders urged the faithful to congregate for a peaceful vigil."
US/UK/AU pronunciation centers the stress on the second syllable: con-GRE-gate. IPA: US kənˈɡrɪˌɡeɪt, UK kənˈɡrɛɡeɪt, AU kənˈɡrɪˌɡeɪt. Start with a schwa in the first syllable, then a strong /ˈɡr/ cluster, followed by the /ɪ/ or /ɛ/ in the second syllable, then the clear /ɡeɪt/ at the end. Keep the /g/ soft but audible and end with a crisp /eɪt/. Imagine saying “con-GRE-gate” with a slight lift on the second syllable and lengthened final bite on /eɪt/.
Two frequent errors: (1) Placing primary stress on the first syllable con-GRE-gate vs con-GRE-gate: ensure the secondary syllable bears the weight with a clear /ˈɡrɪ/ or /ˈɡrɛ/; (2) Slurring the -gate ending into /ɡət/ or /ɡət/ making it /-ɡət/. Correct by keeping /eɪt/ as a tense diphthong rather than a schwa-final. Practice with the full three-syllable rhythm: con-GRE-gate.
US: US r-coloring is minimal in this word; emphasis on GRE; /kənˈɡrɪˌɡeɪt/. UK: similar pattern but with more crisp /ɡr/ and slightly lower vowel in /ɪ/ vs /iː/; /kənˈɡrɛɡeɪt/. AU: tends to flatter vowels; /kənˈɡrɪɡeɪt/ with possibly a flatter /ə/ in the first syllable and less rhoticity comparison, but rhoticic difference is small due to non-rhotic tendencies in many speakers; the final /eɪt/ remains.
The difficulty lies in balancing three syllables with a strong secondary stress on the middle syllable and a final tense /eɪt/ that isn’t reduced. The /ɡr/ cluster and the consonant /ɡ/ plus /eɪ/ require precise tongue position and breath control. Native-like rhythm comes from keeping a steady tempo and avoiding vowels merging, especially ensuring the /ɪ/ or /ɛ/ in the second syllable stays distinct from the first syllable’s schwa.
No silent letters in congregate. The challenge is not a hidden letter but correct vowel quality and stress. The double involvement of the /g/ in crisper /ɡr/ cluster and the final /eɪt/ requires deliberate articulation. Focus on the middle vowel’s quality (ɪ or ɛ) and maintain a clean stop on the final /t/ after the /eɪ/ for a crisp end.
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US: rhotic voice, purer /ɪ/ or /ɛ/ depending on speaker; UK/AU: smaller vowel shifts but keep final /eɪt/. Vowels in the middle syllable tend to be tenser in US than UK. IPA references can help you align to the correct movement: - US /kənˈɡrɪˌɡeɪt/ vs UK /kənˈɡrɛɡeɪt/; AU /kənˈɡrɪˌɡeɪt/ with slightly flatter vowel in the first syllable. Accent-specific drills and listening will cement subtle vowel differences.
Congregate originates from the Latin congregatus, past participle of congregare, meaning to crowd together. congregare itself is composed of con- (together) + greg- (flock, crowd, group), from the Latin grex (flock, crowd). The form passed into Old French as congreger, and later into English as congregate by the 16th century. The sense focus shifted from a religious or community sense of “bring together” to a more general “to gather in one place,” retaining formal registers in many contexts. By the 19th and 20th centuries, it also appeared in administrative, educational, and policy discussions to describe organized assembly or aggregation of people or objects. The pronunciation has preserved the stress on the second syllable, with the final -gate reflecting the Latin root via French influence. First known use in English literature appears in early modern texts dealing with church assemblies and civic gatherings, evolving in later centuries to encompass secular gatherings and formal organizational contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "congregate" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "congregate"
-ate sounds
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