4 syllables: gen, er, a, tor. Stress on gen.
JEN-ur-ay-tur
/ˈdʒɛnɚˌeɪtɚ/
generator is pronounced JEN-ur-ay-tur (/ˈdʒɛnɚˌeɪtɚ/). It has four syllables (gen-er-a-tor), with the stress on "gen". Generator refers to a device or system that converts one form of energy into another, especially producing electrical energy from mechanical or chemical input. It can also mean something that causes or brings about a particular result. In everyday use, it often denotes a machine that supplies power, or a source of ideas or forces that produce outcomes.
Generator refers to a device or system that converts one form of energy into another, especially producing electrical energy from mechanical or chemical input. It can also mean something that causes or brings about a particular result. In everyday use, it often denotes a machine that supplies power, or a source of ideas or forces that produce outcomes.
- Mistiming primary stress: You might place too much emphasis on the second syllable or reduce the first; fix by practicing the full three-part rhythm: /ˈdʒɛn.ə/ then /ˌreɪ/ and final /tər/. - Difficulty with the final /tər/: Some speakers devoice or omit /t/; ensure a light but audible /t/ and a clear /ər/ or /ə/. - Vowel quality drift: Avoid turning /ˈdʒɛn/ into /ˈdʒɛnɡ/ or prolonging /ə/; keep a crisp onset and short schwa. Practice with rhythm drills and minimal pairs to lock the sounds in sequence.
"The backup generator kicks in automatically during a power outage."
"Researchers built a small hand-crank generator to charge a phone."
"The new policy became a generator of debate across the industry."
Pronounce as /ˈdʒɛn.əˌreɪ.tər/ (US) or /ˈdʒɛn.əˌreɪ.tə/ (UK/AU). Start with the /dʒ/ as in 'judge', then the stressed syllable /ˈdʒɛn/. The second syllable is a light /ə/ (schwa) or /ɪ/ in rapid speech, followed by /ˌreɪ/ (the /eɪ/ diphthong) and a final /tər/ or /tə/ depending on accent. Ensure the 'gen' part has a clear /dʒ/ and short /ɛn/; don't reduce to /dʒɛn/. Audio reference: listen to engineering vocabulary pronunciations on reputable dictionaries or Forvo.
Two common errors: (1) Treating the second syllable as a full vowel like /eɪ/ without stress; keep it as a reduced vowel /ə/ or /ɪ/ depending on pace. (2) Dropping the final /tər/ or making it /tər/ too hard; ensure a light, syllabic ending; don’t omit the final consonant. Correct by practicing the sequence dʒɛn-ə-/ˈreɪ-/tər with a gentle release. Focus on the transition between /ən/ and /reɪ/ and then the /tər/ ending.
In US, stress on the first syllable with a clear /ˈdʒɛn.əˌreɪ.tər/ and a pronounced /tər/ ending in many regions. In UK, the /ɡən/ vs /dʒən/ onset is similar, but the final syllable may be more my‑er sound and non-rhoticity leads to a softer /tə/ ending in rapid speech. In Australian English, you’ll hear a slightly more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable, with non-rhotic tendencies and a broad /ˈdʒɛn.əˌreɪ.tə/ in some dialects. Maintain the /dʒ/ onset and the /reɪ/ nucleus across accents, but watch vowel quality and rhoticity.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic rhythm and the contrasting vowels: a stressed /ˈdʒɛn/ followed by a reduced /ə/ then the bright /ˌreɪ/ diphthong, and a final /tər/ cluster. The transitions between schwa and diphthong can trip non-native speakers, and the final /ər/ or /ə/ depends on accent. Additionally, the initial /dʒ/ is a voiced affricate that can be unfamiliar for language learners not used to its immediate oral constriction. Practice smoothing the transitions and keeping each segment crisp.
Think of generator as having three core beats: j-EN (unstressed second syllable tone) and reɪ as a strong nucleus inside the compound flow, with a light final -tor. A unique feature is the two-tier stress pattern: primary on the first syllable and secondary on the /reɪ/ part depending on emphasis. This makes it somewhat less regular than simple nouns with a single strong syllable. Phonetically, you’re guiding air through a clean /dʒ/ onset, steady /ɛn/ sound, then a precise /əˈreɪ/ sequence.
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- US: Rhoticity; pronounce final /ər/ with a clear r-sound; the second syllable often a reduced /ə/ or /ɪ/. - UK: Non-rhotic; final /tə/ or /tə/ is softer; second syllable leans toward a schwa; keep /dʒ/ clear. - AU: Similar to UK but with broader vowel qualities; /ə/ can be more centralized and /ˈdʒɛn.əˌreɪ.tə/ is common. Vowel quality notes: /e/ in /ˈdʒɛn/ is short; diphthong /eɪ/ in /reɪ/ should be targeted but can shift to /ə/ in quick speech. IPA references help anchor your mouth positions.
Generator comes from the Latinized form generare, meaning to beget or to produce, which itself derives from genus, meaning race, kind, or birth. The suffix -ator comes from Latin -ator, denoting an agent performing a function. The term passed into English via French and Latin during the medieval and early modern periods, originally describing a thing that produces or causes something. In scientific and engineering contexts from the 19th century onward, generator shifted to denote devices that convert energy into another form, most notably electrical generators. The word’s first known uses in English appear in technical or philosophical discourse describing generative processes, with adoption into everyday vocabulary as electrical engineering and power systems matured. By the 20th century, generator had become a standard term in households (as in portable generators) and in metaphorical uses (as a generator of ideas). Today, generator is widely used in mechanical, electrical, computing, and metaphorical senses, signaling an entity that creates, initiates, or sustains a flow of energy or phenomena.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "generator" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "generator" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "generator"
-tor sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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