4 syllables: Co, op, er, ate. Stress on op.
koh-AH-pur-ayt
/koʊˈɑpɚˌeɪt/
Cooperate is pronounced koh-AH-pur-ayt (/koʊˈɑpɚˌeɪt/). It has four syllables (Co-op-er-ate), with the stress on "op". Cooperate is a verb meaning to work jointly with others toward a common goal or benefit. It involves collaborative action, coordination, and mutual assistance, often requiring compromise. In usage, it can appear in formal and informal contexts, and can be followed by with or to indicate who is involved or the purpose of the collaboration.
verbCooperate is a verb meaning to work jointly with others toward a common goal or benefit. It involves collaborative action, coordination, and mutual assistance, often requiring compromise. In usage, it can appear in formal and informal contexts, and can be followed by with or to indicate who is involved or the purpose of the collaboration.
How to Pronounce Cooperate
"The two departments decided to cooperate on the new project to ensure its success."
"During the crisis, neighboring communities cooperated with relief efforts to distribute supplies."
"A good team will cooperate rather than compete, maximizing overall productivity."
USA/US: IPA koʊˈɒpəreɪt or koʊˌɒpəˈreɪt; UK: kəʊˈɒpəreɪt; AU: kəˈɒpəreɪt. The key is two- or three-syllable pattern with primary stress on the second syllable for many speakers: co-OP-erate. Mouth: start with /koʊ/ or /kəʊ/ (rounded lips, mid-back vowel), then /ˈɒ/ or /ɒ/ in the second syllable, followed by /pə/ (lip seal). End with /reɪt/ or /rəteɪt/. Remember the vowel in the middle is short and the final -ate is a long /eɪt/.”
Two frequent errors: (1) Stressing the first syllable: co-OP-erate is more natural for many; (2) Pronouncing the second syllable as /oʊ/ or /oʊpə-/, turning it into co-OP-er-ATE; aim for /ˈɒ/ in the second syllable and a clear /ə/ before the final /reɪt/. Also avoid turning the word into ‘co-operate’ with a heavy break; keep a smooth transition between /ɒ/ and /pə/.”
In US English, you may hear koʊˈɒpəreɪt with a stronger /oʊ/ and rhotic /r/ color. In UK English, /kəʊˈɒpəreɪt/ features a non-rhotic /r/ and a more centralized second vowel. Australian English commonly shows /kəˈɒpəreɪt/ with a flatter intonation and a broad /ə/ in the first syllable; some speakers favor /ɒ/ in the second syllable and a less pronounced final /t/.”
The difficulty stems from the two-stressed variant and the subtle second-syllable vowel shift: /ɒ/ in the stressed second syllable combined with a near-silent or lightly pronounced ending in fast speech. Learners often misplace the primary stress, producing co-OP-erate instead of ko-OP-erate, or flatten the final -ate to /ət/. Mastery requires precise syllable timing and mouth positioning for /ˈɒ/ and /ə/ before /reɪt/.”
A unique aspect is the optional pronunciation shift: some speakers pronounce /ˌkoʊɒpəˈreɪt/ with two weak syllables before the primary stress, while others use /koʊˈɒpəreɪt/ with a more prominent first syllable. The decision often depends on whether you want a formal sense (clear three-syllable enunciation) or a shorter, more casual form (two strong syllables with reduced ending). IPA helps lock in the exact vowels and stresses.”
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Cooperate derives from the Middle French cooperer, from Latin cooperari, combining co- (together) with operari (to work). The Latin root oper- means work, activity, or operation. In Old French, cooperer carried the sense of working together with others toward a common aim. Through Middle English, the word broadened to include both the idea of assisting others and functioning in a mutually beneficial way within a group. The form cooperate with the -ate suffix reflects the verb construction borrowed from Latin-based patterns and was fully integrated into English by the 16th century. The pronunciation and property of the word evolved with changes in stress patterns and vowel quality in different dialects, particularly around the second syllable, as speakers shifted toward either a stress on the second or third syllable depending on whether they preferred a verb-noun distinction that has historically influenced similar words. First known usage in English records appears in the 15th to 16th centuries, with the sense of working jointly with others well established by the 17th century. Today, cooperate is a common term in business, politics, and everyday speech, frequently appearing with prepositions like with, in, or to, and often used in formal contexts, especially when describing coordinated actions across groups or organizations.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Cooperate" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Cooperate"
-ate sounds
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