3 syllables: de, si, gnates. Stress on de.
DEZ-ig-nayts
/ˈdɛzɪˌɡneɪts/
designates is pronounced DEZ-ig-nayts (/ˈdɛzɪˌɡneɪts/). It has three syllables (de-si-gnates), with the stress on "de". Designates means to officially choose or appoint someone or something for a particular role or purpose. It can also refer to indicating or signaling something by a mark or label. In formal contexts, it often implies a provisional or formal designation that may become final. The term carries nuance around authority, assignment, and signaling an intended recipient or function.
Designates means to officially choose or appoint someone or something for a particular role or purpose. It can also refer to indicating or signaling something by a mark or label. In formal contexts, it often implies a provisional or formal designation that may become final. The term carries nuance around authority, assignment, and signaling an intended recipient or function.
"The committee designates a spokesperson for the project."
"In the map, the symbol designates a protected area."
"The manager designates tasks to team members at the start of the sprint."
Pronounce as /dɪˈzædʒ.ɪts/ (US) or /dɪˈzædʒ.ɪts/ (UK/AU) with three syllables. The primary stress falls on the second syllable: di-ZADJ-its. In slower speech, you may hear a slight pause between /ˈ/ and /æ/; in fast speech, the middle consonant cluster can compress to /ˈzædʒ/. Mouth: start with a lax /d/, open short /ɪ/ in the first syllable, then a bold /ˈzædʒ/ as the core, and end with a light /ɪts/. Audio reference: consult Cambridge or Forvo for native recordings.
Two common errors: 1) Misplacing stress to the first syllable (di-ZADJ-ets) which softens the intended emphasis. 2) Slurring the middle /dʒ/ into a simple /d/ or /z/ leading to /dɪˈzædzɪts/. Correction: emphasize the /dʒ/ as a single affricate: /dʒ/ in /ˈzædʒ/. Practice with minimal pairs like /dɪˈzædʒ.ɪts/ vs /dɪˈzæd.ɪts/. Also ensure final /ts/ is crisp, not a dull /s/ or /t/.
In US English, stress is typically on the second syllable with /ˈzædʒ/ as the core; the final /ts/ is clear. UK and AU variants keep stress similar but may feature tighter /ɪ/ reductions and slightly different rhoticity with less pronounced /r/ in non-rhotic accents. UK often reports a slightly longer central vowel in the second syllable and less release of /t/; AU mirrors US closely but with subtler vowel shifts. Overall, the word remains three syllables with strong /dʒ/ and final /ts/.
The difficulty stems from the three-syllable structure with a mid-word affricate /dʒ/ (/ ˈzædʒ/) and a final /ts/ consonant cluster that can elide in rapid speech. The sequence /ˈzædʒ/ requires precise tongue elevation for the /dʒ/ sound and a quick transition into the voiceless /t/ and /s/. Additionally, the linking of the syllables in connected speech can blur the boundary between /dʒ/ and /ɪts/. Paying attention to the middle affricate makes it easier.
A unique query might be: Is the middle sound /dʒ/ segmented as one sound or two in fast speech? Answer: It is a single affricate /dʒ/; in rapid speech the release and voicing can blend with surrounding vowels, but you should still perceive and produce a distinct /dʒ/ as in “judge” before moving to /ɪts/. Focus on a clean /dʒ/ release followed by the /ɪts/ ending.
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US: rhotic and forward vowel in /æ/; clear /dʒ/ with a strong release; final /ts/ crisp. UK: less rhotic emphasis; slightly sharper /æ/ and a tighter /t/ release; final /ts/ remains. AU: similar to US but vowels may be more centralized; slight sing-song intonation in some dialects; keep three-syllable rhythm with stress on second. IPA references: US /dɪˈzædʒ.ɪts/, UK /dɪˈzædʒ.ɪts/, AU /dɪˈzædʒ.ɪts/.
Designates originates from Latin designatus, the past participle of designare, meaning to mark out, designate, or appoint. The Latin root design- comes from de- (out, completely) plus signare (to mark, indicate), combining to convey the act of marking out a boundary or assigning a role. The term entered English via Old French (desseignier/désigner) and later Middle French, adopting the sense of appointing or choosing someone for a specific office or duty. In English, designation has long been used in legal, administrative, and academic contexts to convey formal appointment, labeling, or signaling of status. The verb form designates appeared in the 16th–17th centuries, aligning with the rise of formal bureaucratic language, where precise marking of roles, titles, or statuses was essential. Over time, designates also extended to indicate or signal something by symbol or label, preserving the core sense of assignment and signaling. The evolution reflects a shift from physical marking to formal designation of roles within organizations and systems, with the nuance of authority, permission, and scope embedded in usage across disciplines.
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Words that rhyme with "designates"
-tes sounds
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