3 syllables: de, mon, strate. Stress on de.
DEM-uhn-strayt
/ˈdɛmənsˌtɹeɪt/
demonstrate is pronounced DEM-uhn-strayt (/ˈdɛmənsˌtɹeɪt/). It has three syllables (de-mon-strate), with the stress on "de". Demonstrate means to show or explain how something works or to provide evidence through examples or actions. It involves presenting information in a clear, observable way so others can understand or verify the claim. The term is commonly used in teaching, testing, and public-facing explanations to illustrate a process, method, or outcome.
Demonstrate means to show or explain how something works or to provide evidence through examples or actions. It involves presenting information in a clear, observable way so others can understand or verify the claim. The term is commonly used in teaching, testing, and public-facing explanations to illustrate a process, method, or outcome.
- You might misplace the stress (saying de-MON-strate). Fix by practicing tri-syllabic segmentation: /ˈdɛmən/ + /streɪt/ and repeating with tapping the syllable count in your head. - The /str/ cluster is easy to blur into /s/ + /tr/; keep a crisp onset with a short pull-in of the tongue to start the /s/ and then /t/ into /r/. Do minimal pair drills with /str/ vs /sr/ to lock the sequence. - The final /eɪt/ can be rushed; practice slow: /streɪt/ with a well-formed /eɪ/ and then release into the next word. For accuracy, separate the syllables in practice, then blend.
"She demonstrated the recipe step by step, so everyone could follow along."
"The scientist demonstrated the experiment to the class, highlighting each variable."
"During the interview, he demonstrated his leadership skills through concrete examples."
You say /ˈdɛmənˌstreɪt/ in US English and /dɪˈmɒn.strət/ or /ˌdɛmənˈstreɪt/ in UK English depending on speaker. The primary stress is on the second syllable in many accents: de-MON-strate. Break it into three parts: /ˈdɛ/ (d-eh) + /mən/ (mən) + /streɪt/ (strayt). Tip: keep the /str/ cluster tight and finish with a clear /eɪt/ glide. For an audio reference, listen to standard pronunciations on Pronounce or Cambridge audio samples.
Two common errors are misplacing the stress and slurring the /str/ sequence. People may say de-MON-strate or de‑mon‑STRATE. Correct by maintaining secondary syllable stress on /ˌmɒn/ or /ˌmən/ depending on accent, and practice a crisp /str/ onset before /eɪt/. Use minimal pairs and slow repetition to lock the /ˈdɛmən/ + /streɪt/ rhythm.
In American English, you’ll hear /ˈdɛmənˌstreɪt/ with strong /ə/ reduction in the second syllable and a clear /eɪt/ at the end; the /t/ is often unreleased in casual speech. British English tends to have a more clipped /ˈdɛmənˌstreɪt/ with slightly shorter vowels and a non-rhotic tendency in some varieties, affecting the /r/ presence in surrounding words. Australian speakers usually preserve a clear /ˈdɛmənˌstreɪt/ with more rounded vowels and a slightly lighter /t/. Always check a reputable dictionary’s pronunciation audio.
The word combines a stressed second syllable and a consonant cluster /str/ that can be tricky after a reduced vowel in /ə/ or /ə/ in rapid speech. The /ə/ in the second syllable often reduces, so you must maintain the suction and airflow into the /streɪt/ sequence. The long diphthong /eɪ/ requires a precise tongue height and lip spread. Balancing stress, syllable timing, and the /str/ cluster makes it easy to misplace emphasis or flatten the vowel.
Does the final /t/ in demonstrate ever become a flap or a softened release in quick speech? In careful speech, you’ll keep a clear /t/; in rapid, casual speech, many speakers reduce to a lighter, unreleased stop or even a stop followed by a brief pause before the next word. Practicing with both clear and reduced releases can help you sound natural while remaining intelligible.
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- US: Emphasize the /ˈdɛmən/ with a clear /æ/ or schwa in the first two syllables and a bright /eɪ/ in the final syllable. Rhotic environment reduces not affecting the /r/ here but watch for linking with neighboring words. - UK: Slightly steadier vowel lengths; keep /ɪ/ or /ə/ in the second syllable lighter, but retain the /streɪt/ sequence clearly. Avoid heavy r-colouring in positions that don’t call for it; some speakers may de-rhoticize. - AU: Clear vowels with slightly flatter /ə/; keep the /str/ cluster tight and ensure the final /t/ is crisp but not sharp. IPA reminders: US /ˈdɛmənˌstreɪt/, UK /dɪˈmɒn.strət/ or /ˌdɛmənˈstreɪt/, AU /ˈdɛmənˌstreɪt/. - Tips across accents: Practice with bridge sounds between syllables to avoid vowel mergers; use a mirror to monitor lip spreading for /eɪ/ and the /straɪ/ portion. - General: Keep mouth relaxed in the first syllable; the second syllable needs a brisk transition into /streɪt/ for natural flow.
Demonstrate emerges from Latin demonstrare, meaning to point out, reveal, or prove. The verb is formed from de- (down, thoroughly) + monstrare (to show, point out), itself from monstrum (a sign, omen, or instance) and related to monstrum/monstrare. In Classical Latin, demonstrare conveyed the act of pointing to evidence, making something clear or undeniable. The term entered English through Old French demonstrer, evolving in Middle English with the sense of “to show by proof or argument.” By the 16th century, demonstrate had acquired a broader sense in scholastic, legal, and scientific contexts: to reveal, exhibit, or establish by demonstration. The modern usage emphasizes demonstrable evidence, procedural demonstration, or active demonstration of a method. Over time, its collocations broadened from physical display to methodological explanations and experimental proof, now a staple in education, research, and performance contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "demonstrate" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "demonstrate"
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