3 syllables: cor, rel, ate. Stress on cor.
KAW-ruh-layt
/ˈkɔɹəˌleɪt/
correlate is pronounced KAW-ruh-layt (/ˈkɔɹəˌleɪt/). It has three syllables (cor-rel-ate), with the stress on "cor". Correlate is a verb meaning to have a mutual relationship or connection between two or more things; to connect or correspond so that one thing reflects or depends on another. In academic and scientific writing, relate and connect are often used, but correlate specifically emphasizes a measurable or observed relationship. The term is commonly used in statistics, psychology, and research to indicate a relationship, not necessarily causation.
Correlate is a verb meaning to have a mutual relationship or connection between two or more things; to connect or correspond so that one thing reflects or depends on another. In academic and scientific writing, relate and connect are often used, but correlate specifically emphasizes a measurable or observed relationship. The term is commonly used in statistics, psychology, and research to indicate a relationship, not necessarily causation.
- You may drop the middle vowel: ensure you utter /ˈkɔːr.ə.leɪt/ with a clear schwa in the middle rather than a reduced or deleted sound. - Avoid compressing /rə/ into a single unreleased cluster; keep a light, controlled /r/ and a distinct /ə/ before /leɪt/. - Ending with a dull /t/ or lacking the /eɪ/; practice the final /eɪt/ and ensure the /t/ is audible.
"The study found that hours of study correlated with exam scores, though causation was not established."
"Researchers correlated the variables to determine whether a pattern existed across samples."
"The data showed a strong correlation between patient age and recovery time."
Pronounce as /ˈkɔːr.ə.leɪt/ in US and UK; Australian typically /ˈkɒr.ə.leɪt/. Start with a strong stressed first syllable: COR-, using a mid-back rounded vowel like 'or' in 'born.' The middle syllable is schwa /ə/, soft and unstressed. End with /leɪt/ where /eɪ/ is a long vowel followed by a light /t/. Ensure the final consonant is released clearly for intelligibility. Audio guidance: listen to standard pronunciations on Cambridge or Forvo and imitate the crisp /ˈkɔːr.ə.leɪt/ sequence.
Two common errors: 1) Reducing the first syllable too much and saying /ˈkɔːr.əl.eɪt/ with a weak /r/ or silent /r/ in American dialects; keep the rhotic /r/ clearly after /k/. 2) Slurring the final -ate into /t/ without a clear /eɪ/; avoid pronouncing as /ˈkɒr.ə.leːt/. Instead, produce /leɪt/ with a distinct /eɪ/ before the final /t/. Practice by isolating each syllable: /ˈkɔːr/ + /ə/ + /leɪt/ and linking them smoothly.
US and UK share the /ˈkɔːr.ə.leɪt/ vs /ˈkɒr.ə.leɪt/ difference in the first vowel: US often /ɔːr/ (more open back rounded) like 'caught,' UK often /ɒ/ as in 'lot' in non-rhotic varieties may still show /ɔːr/ in rhotic accents; Australian typically /ˈkɒrə.leɪt/ with a flatter first vowel, and the final -ate remains /eɪt/. The rhotic feature affects the post-vocalic /r/ sound, especially in US; UK (non-rhotic) may reduce /r/ unless it's linking. In all, keep the /ˈkɔːr/ or /ˈkɒr/ onset, schwa before -late, and a clear /eɪt/ ending.
It challenges two aspects: the initial rhotic /r/ followed by a stressed syllable, and the sequence /ˈkɔːr.ə.leɪt/ where the middle /ə/ is a weak vowel, making it easy to mispronounce as /ˈkɔːrˌleɪt/ or /ˈkɒr.ə.leɪt/. The final /eɪt/ can be reduced in rapid speech to /eɪ/ or /ət/. Mastery requires clear mouth posture for /r/, isolating the schwa, and maintaining a precise glide into /eɪt/.
Is there any silent segment in correlate? No silent letters; all letters contribute to the syllables: COR-rel-ate, with stress on the first syllable. The middle /ə/ is typically unstressed and reduced in connected speech, but it is not silent. Keeping the middle vowel audible helps avoid a clipped delivery and preserves the intended meaning.
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- US: rhotic /r/ after /ɔː/ with more forward tongue, keep the /r/ crisp; the /ə/ is a quick, relaxed vowel; /eɪt/ has a raised, tense offglide. - UK: less rhotic in some varieties; ensure an audible /r/ only in linking contexts; emphasize a crisp /ˈkɒrə.leɪt/ with less vowel length in first syllable; final /eɪt/ remains. - AU: similar to UK but with broader vowel qualities; often more centralized /ɒ/ in the first syllable; maintain clear /r/ if pronounced in rhotic context; practice with IPA prompts to capture the nuances.
Correlate derives from the combination of Latin correlare, meaning to align, bracket, or relate, from cor- 'together' and relare 'to bind back.' The Latin corpus includes cor-, ‘together,’ with ralare tied to ‘to bind’ or ‘to bind together’; the modern sense emerged through late 17th to 18th century scientific and mathematical usage. The element correl- appears in correlational studies that examine how two or more variables move together. First attested in English around the 18th century, correlate began as a more abstract term in philosophy and mathematics and later broadened to general use in statistics and social sciences. The word evolved to emphasize a measurable relationship, often quantified by correlation coefficients (e.g., Pearson’s r). Its sense of “to have a mutual, responsive relationship” reflects the quantitative emphasis of scientific discourse in modern English. In contemporary usage, correlate frequently accompanies statistical analysis, but is also used metaphorically in everyday language to describe relationships between ideas, events, or factors.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "correlate" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "correlate" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "correlate"
-ate sounds
-me) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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