3 syllables: de, mo, crat. Stress on de.
DEM-uh-krat
/ˈdɛməˌkɹæt/
democrat is pronounced DEM-uh-krat (/ˈdɛməˌkɹæt/). It has three syllables (de-mo-crat), with the stress on "de". A term for a member or supporter of the Democratic Party, or more broadly, relating to democracy. In politics it identifies individuals advocating for liberal or progressive policies within a given context. The word can function as a noun or, less commonly, as an adjective when describing things associated with democracy or the party.
A term for a member or supporter of the Democratic Party, or more broadly, relating to democracy. In politics it identifies individuals advocating for liberal or progressive policies within a given context. The word can function as a noun or, less commonly, as an adjective when describing things associated with democracy or the party.
"The Democrat argued for stronger environmental protections during the debate."
"Democrat voters in the district favored increased funding for public schools."
"Some Republicans accused Democrats of stalling the bill for political reasons."
US: /ˈdɛm.ə.kræt/ or /dəˈmɒ.krət/ depending on speaker; UK and US both commonly use /ˈdɛməkræt/ with stress on the second syllable in some dialects, while some US speakers pronounce /dəˈmɒk.rət/; main stress tends to be on the second syllable in practice. Mouth position centers on a clear 'dem-' with a brief 'uh' schwa in the second syllable and a lighter final 'crat' or 'krat' depending on vowel quality. IPA guide: US /ˈdɛm.ə.kræt/; UK /dɪˈmɒ.krət/; AU /dəˈmɒː.kɹæt/.
Two frequent errors: (1) Misplacing stress, pronouncing di-MA-crat with incorrect emphasis. (2) Final vowel reduction or altering /æ/ vs /ə/; avoid turning /kræt/ into /krət/. Correction: keep primary stress on the second syllable and maintain a crisp /æ/ or /æə/ in the second-to-last syllable, finishing with a plosive /t/ or /d/ depending on word form. Practice with minimal pairs: Democrat vs democratic forms.
In US English, stress often falls on the second syllable with a clear /ˌdɛməˈkræt/ vs /dəˈmɒkrət/ in some regions; UK English tends to /dɪˈmɒk.rət/ with a shorter a as in /ɒ/. Australian accents often merge /ɒ/ and /ɒː/ in the first syllable, keeping /dəˈmɒ.krət/ or /dəˈmɔː.krət/. The key differences are vowel quality in the first two syllables and whether the /r/ is rhotic (US, AU) or non-rhotic (UK); final /t/ is typically clear across all. IPA examples: US /ˈdɛm.ə.kræt/; UK /dɪˈmɒ.krət/; AU /dəˈmɒː.kɹət/.
Because of the two adjacent unstressed syllables and the cluster /kr/ + /æt/ at the end, many speakers lengthen or reduce vowels changing syllable boundaries. Also, the contrast between /æ/ and schwa in the middle syllable can be subtle, and regional rhoticity affects the /r/ sound. Maintaining stress on the second syllable while delivering a clear final /t/ and a crisp /kræt/ requires precise tongue and lip control. IPA nuance helps: US /ˈdɛm.ə.kræt/ vs UK /dɪˈmɒ.krət/.
The word often carries subtle vowel shifts between /ˈdɛ.mə.kræt/ and /dəˈmɑː.kət/ depending on speaker and form (Democrat vs democratic). The stress pattern and the transition from the /mə/ to /kræt/ require tight timing to avoid misplacing the syllable boundary, especially in rapid speech. Listen for the short, clipped first syllable, the schwa-like middle, and a crisp, clear final /t/ or /d/ in connected speech.
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Democrat derives from the French democrat, from the Greek demos meaning ‘people’ and kratos meaning ‘rule’ or ‘power,’ via Latin democratus and ultimately from the term demokratia used in ancient Greek city-states to describe rule by the people. The English adoption began in the 18th century, influenced by French and Latin political vocabulary, and by the 19th century had become the standard label for adherents of the Democratic Party in the United States and other democratically inclined contexts. The word originally carried a neutral or ideological sense of “believer in rule by the people” but in modern U.S. usage it denotes a member or supporter of the Democratic Party, with connotations of liberal or progressive policy stances. Over time, the term has also appeared in broader contexts to describe those advocating democracy or democratic governance in general. First known uses appear in 18th-century political writings reflecting the Enlightenment’s trust in popular sovereignty, with widespread adoption in parliamentary and partisan discourse by the 19th and 20th centuries.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "democrat" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "democrat" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "democrat"
-rat sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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