2 syllables: de, vote. Stress on vote.
div-OHT
/dɪˈvoʊt/
devote is pronounced div-OHT (/dɪˈvoʊt/). It has two syllables (de-vote), with the stress on "vote". Devote means to give a large portion of one’s time, energy, or resources to a person, cause, or activity. It implies committed, sustained focus and sacrifice, often with a sense of wholehearted dedication over a period of time. The term can also describe devoting oneself to a duty or to religious or personal goals, highlighting prioritization and loyalty.
Devote means to give a large portion of one’s time, energy, or resources to a person, cause, or activity. It implies committed, sustained focus and sacrifice, often with a sense of wholehearted dedication over a period of time. The term can also describe devoting oneself to a duty or to religious or personal goals, highlighting prioritization and loyalty.
- You’ll often see a mismatch between spelling and pronunciation; the second syllable carries the long vowel, not a short one. - 2-3 phonetic challenges: long diphthong in the stressed syllable; final t release; reducing the first syllable too much. - Correction tips: practice with minimal pairs (/dɪˈvoʊt/ vs /ˈdiːvət/), over-emphasize the second syllable in practice then blend, record and compare to native speech.
"She decided to devote herself to medical research after graduation."
"They devote many hours each week to volunteering at the community center."
"He devoted his career to helping underserved youth."
Pronounce as /dɪˈvoʊt/ in US, /dɪˈvəʊt/ in UK, with the primary stress on the second syllable: de-VO-te. The first syllable is short i (dih), the vowel in the stressed syllable is a long o as in 'goat'. The final t is released, but in rapid speech you might hear a gliding vowel into the consonant. Audio cues: focus on a clear long o in the second syllable and a light, crisp t at the end.
Common errors: 1) Pronouncing the second syllable with a short o like ‘dot’ instead of a long o; ensure the vowel is /oʊ/ or /əʊ/. 2) Misplacing stress as de-VOTE vs de-VOte; keep primary stress on the second syllable /voʊt/. 3) Deleting the final /t/ in casual speech; practice releasing the /t/ crisply. Correction tips: exaggerate the second-syllable vowel briefly during practice, and use minimal pairs to lock in the /voʊt/ pattern: like ‘vote’ vs ‘devote’ contrast.
US: /dɪˈvoʊt/ with a clear /oʊ/ vowel and rhotic rlessness elsewhere; the first syllable is reduced. UK: /dɪˈvəʊt/ with a closer, more rounded /əʊ/ diphthong and less rhotic influence. AU: similar to UK but with Australian vowel quality; sometimes sounds closer to /dɪˈvəʊt/ with slightly flatter final vowel and crisp /t/. Across accents, the main difference is the middle vowel quality and vowel length, while stress on the second syllable remains consistent.
The difficulty lies in the diphthong in the stressed second syllable /voʊ/ (US) or /vəʊ/ (UK/AU), which requires precise tongue height and lip rounding. Many speakers mispronounce as /ˈdɛvət/ or reduce the vowel to a schwa, losing the long diphthong. Also, maintaining the strong secondary stress on the second syllable while ending with a crisp /t/ can be tricky in connected speech.
No. In careful pronunciation the final /t/ is pronounced as a released stop, /t/. In very rapid or informal speech you may notice a partial release or assimilation to a following consonant, but generally you should articulate /t/ distinctly to avoid confusion with similar words like ‘devout’ (which ends with /t/ but is a noun/adjective) and ‘devotee’ (which ends with an /iː/). IPA reminder: /dɪˈvoʊt/ (US).
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Devote comes from the late Middle English devoten, from Old French devoiter, from the Latin de- ‘completely’ + votum ‘a vow, promise’. The word originally carried the sense of performing a vow or dedicating oneself to a religious or solemn commitment. By the 15th century, it broadened to mean giving one’s time, resources, or attention to a person, cause, or activity beyond casual attention. Over time, the nuance shifted from vow-centric to general wholehearted commitment, though its formal and ceremonial connotations persist in phrases like ‘devote oneself to a cause’ or ‘devote all energies.’ Modern usage spans religious devotion and secular dedication in personal, professional, or charitable contexts, often implying sustained, intense focus rather than casual involvement.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "devote" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "devote" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "devote"
-ote sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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