3 syllables: Em, u, late. Stress on Em.
EM-yuh-layt
/ˈɛmjəˌleɪt/
Emulate is pronounced EM-yuh-layt (/ˈɛmjəˌleɪt/). It has three syllables (Em-u-late), with the stress on "Em". Emulate means to imitate or copy someone or something, often with the aim of matching or surpassing the model. It implies deliberate replication of qualities, behavior, or performance, usually to achieve a standard or ideal. The nuance is less about reproduction and more about striving to resemble the admired example in practice and outcome.
verbEmulate means to imitate or copy someone or something, often with the aim of matching or surpassing the model. It implies deliberate replication of qualities, behavior, or performance, usually to achieve a standard or ideal. The nuance is less about reproduction and more about striving to resemble the admired example in practice and outcome.
- You may misplace stress: ensure the primary stress is on the second syllable: em-u-LATE. Say it fluidly as three clear beats rather than a quick two-beat word. - The /mju/ sequence can be tricky: keep the /j/ sound (like in you) directly after the /m/ without adding an extra vowel. Practicing /mjuː/ helps avoid /muː/ or /miːjuː/ blends. - Final /t/ can be weak or elided in rapid speech; practice a crisp alveolar /t/ with a light burst. - Vowel quality can drift toward /ɪˈmjuːləte/ or /ɪˈmjuːlət/ if you reduce /leɪt/; keep /leɪ/ as a distinct diphthong and attach it to the final /t/.
How to Pronounce Emulate
"She tried to emulate her mentor’s precise handwriting and workflow."
"The new product emulates the sleek design of its predecessor while adding modern features."
"Researchers aim to emulate natural human learning processes in the lab."
Pronunciation centers on the three-syllable structure: /ɪˈmjuː.leɪt/. The stress is on the second syllable: em-u-LATE. Start with a light, short /ɪ/ as in “kit,” then glide into /mjuː/ with a fronted /j/ sound before a long /uː/ as in “mew.” The final /leɪt/ ends with a clear /eɪ/ followed by a light /t/. You can practice: em- yú- late; ensure the /j/ blends smoothly into the /uː/ without an extra vowel. Audio reference: listen for the /ɪˈmjuː.leɪt/ rhythm in careful speech.
Common errors include: 1) Dropping the second syllable or misplacing stress (e.g., /ˈɛm.juˌleɪt/); 2) Mispronouncing /mjuː/ as /muː/ without the /j/ onset, producing /ɪˈmuː.leɪt/; 3) Not finishing with a crisp /t/ or turning it into a glottal stop. Correction: insert the /j/ after /m/ to form /mjʊ/ or /mjuː/, focus on a distinct /leɪ/ before the final /t/; practice with minimal pairs emphasizing the /j/ onset and the final consonant sharpness.
US/UK/AU share /ɪˈmjuː.leɪt/, with the rhotic US may show slight jt-connection sound in rapid speech. UK tends to a crisper /t/ at the end, sometimes with non-rhoticity affecting preceding vowels in fast speech. AU often mirrors US vowel quality but may have a slightly more centralized quality on the /juː/ sequence. Maintain /j/ after /m/ in all, and ensure the /leɪt/ remains distinct, not merged into /leːt/.
The difficulty lies in the /mjuː/ consonant cluster, requiring a smooth /m/ into a /j/ glide without an extra vowel, followed by a clear /leɪt/ with final voiceless /t/. Learners often produce /ɪˈmjuːlət/ or /ɪˈɛmjuːleɪt/ with a weakened /juː/ or a trailing vowel. Practice focusing on the transition from /m/ to /j/ and keeping the /eɪ/ as a separate, stressed nucleus before the final /t/.
A unique angle is the potential confusion with imitate. Emulate emphasizes striving toward an exemplar’s qualities and outcomes, not merely reproducing someone’s exact actions. The pronunciation remains the same, but you can emphasize the stress and intention in context: “to em-u-late (to imitate with the goal of achieving excellence).” This question targets searchers comparing emulate with imitate, clarifying both meaning and pronunciation.
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- US: /ɪˈmjuː.leɪt/ with rhotic influence minimal in careful speech; maintain /j/ even in fast talk. - UK: /ɪˈmjuː.leɪt/, crisper final /t/, non-rhotic effect on preceding vowels; practice with a precise /eɪ/ and a strong, audible /t/. - AU: similar to US, but vowel quality of /juː/ may be slightly more centralized; keep the /j/ onset intact and avoid merging /leɪt/ into /leɪt/.
Emulate comes from the Latin verb imitari, meaning 'to imitate, copy, or imitate closely.' Imitari itself derives from the proto-Italic root *imit-, from the verb *imitare, which expresses the act of copying or representing. The English form emulate emerged in the late Middle English period, influenced by the French emulate, and ultimately by Latin imitari. The core semantic shift oriented around the sense of mirroring an exemplar rather than simply copying. Over time, emulate acquired a more deliberate nuance: not just to imitate for its own sake, but to imitate with the aspiration of achieving the same level of skill, virtue, or quality as the model. First known uses in English appear in scholarly and moral contexts, where individuals were described as emulating virtuous or exemplary behavior. In modern usage, emulate frequently appears in professional, technical, and cultural contexts, often paired with phrases like “emulate the success of,” “emulate best practices,” or “emulate natural processes.” The word retains its Latin-root emphasis on representation through resemblance, extending into domains from user interfaces to process optimization. The etymology reflects a long-standing human interest in learning by example and achieving excellence by close approximation to a model.
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Help others use "Emulate" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Emulate" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Emulate" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Emulate"
-ate sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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