2 syllables: Gra, ter. Stress on Gra.
GRAY-tur
/ˈɡɹeɪtɚ/
Grater is pronounced GRAY-tur (/ˈɡɹeɪtɚ/). It has two syllables (Gra-ter), with the stress on "Gra". Grater (noun) refers to a kitchen tool with sharp-edged perforations used to shred foods, especially cheese or vegetables. It denotes both the device and, in some contexts, the action or result of grating. The term emphasizes the instrument’s function and its tactile, repetitive use in food preparation.
nounGrater (noun) refers to a kitchen tool with sharp-edged perforations used to shred foods, especially cheese or vegetables. It denotes both the device and, in some contexts, the action or result of grating. The term emphasizes the instrument’s function and its tactile, repetitive use in food preparation.
"I grated a cup of Parmesan over the pasta."
"The cheese grater slipped, sending shavings onto the counter."
"A handheld grater can be faster for small amounts."
Pronounce it as /ˈɡreɪtər/ (GRAIN-ter with a softer final syllable). The primary stress is on the first syllable. Tip: start with a crisp /ɡ/, then /reɪ/ as a long diphthong, and finish with /tər/. If you’re teaching others, show the mouth positions: lips rounded for /r/ at the end, and a light syllabic ending on /ər/. Reference: IPA transcription /ˈɡreɪtər/ for US/UK, rhoticity affects the final /ɹ/ in rhotic accents.
Common errors: (1) pronouncing as /ˈɡreɪdər/ with a long /d/ replacing the /t/; (2) dropping the /r/ in non-rhotic accents or misplacing it after a vowel; (3) reducing the /eɪ/ to a shorter /e/ sound. Correction: keep a clear /t/ before the final /ər/ with a true /eɪ/ diphthong, and articulate the /ɹ/ or its non-rhotic alternative precisely depending on the accent. Slow practice the sequence /ˈɡreɪ.tər/ and use a light aspirated release on /t/.
US: rhotic /ɹ/ final, strong /ɡreɪ/ onset, clear /ər/. UK: non-rhotic? In many British accents, final /r/ is not pronounced unless followed by a vowel, so /ˈɡreɪtə/ may appear; stress remains on first syllable. AU: similar to US in rhotic behavior, but vowel quality can be slightly broader with /ɹ/ pronounced. Across accents, the /eɪ/ diphthong is stable, but the final /ə/ or /əɹ/ realization varies. Practice all three: /ˈɡreɪ.tər/, /ˈɡreɪ.tə/ and /ˈɡreɪtə(ɹ)/ depending on context.
Challenges include the cluster /ˈɡreɪ/ at the start and the unreleased or lightly released /t/ before the final /ər/ or /ə/. The sequence requires precise tongue-twitch: tongue blade to alveolar ridge for /t/, tip of the tongue for /ɹ/ or a vowel-centered coda in non-rhotic accents, and a clear transition from /eɪ/ to /t/ to /ər/. Mastery comes from practicing the two-mora rhythm and ensuring even syllabic duration.
Note the temporary transition from the vowel /eɪ/ to the voiceless alveolar stop /t/ and then to the rhotic vowel /ər/ (or /ə/ in non-rhotic accents). The emphasis is on the first syllable with a crisp onset /ɡ/ and then a precise alveolar stop before the final rhotic or schwa. You’ll want steady airflow and avoid elongating the final vowel too much.
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Grater originates from the noun grater, derived from the verb grate, which comes from Old French grater, from Latin radix gratus ‘pleasing, agreeable’ though in culinary sense it adapted to mean to rub or grate food against a rough surface. The specific kitchen implement emerged in English in the 14th–15th centuries as metal graters became common household tools. The word evolved from the action-name to denote the device that performs the action; by the 18th century, printed manuals and catalogs used grater to describe perforated metal graters in various sizes and materials. Over time, specialized variants appeared (handheld graters, box graters, microplane graters) with refinements in teeth geometry for cheese, zest, or vegetables. Today, grater is a well-established term in culinary lexicon, carrying both a generic device sense and a specific tool designation across English-speaking markets.
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Help others use "Grater" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Grater" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Grater" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Grater"
-ter sounds
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