3 syllables: Im, i, tate. Stress on Im.
IM-uh-tayt
/ˈɪməˌteɪt/
Imitate is pronounced IM-uh-tayt (/ˈɪməˌteɪt/). It has three syllables (Im-i-tate), with the stress on "Im". Imitate is a verb meaning to copy or mimic someone or something, often for the purpose of learning or entertainment. It involves reproducing actions, sounds, or behaviors closely enough to resemble the original, sometimes with deliberate emphasis or style. The term commonly appears in contexts like performance, humor, and social learning, where observation leads to replication.
verbImitate is a verb meaning to copy or mimic someone or something, often for the purpose of learning or entertainment. It involves reproducing actions, sounds, or behaviors closely enough to resemble the original, sometimes with deliberate emphasis or style. The term commonly appears in contexts like performance, humor, and social learning, where observation leads to replication.
"She can imitate a famous actor with remarkable accuracy."
"Young children imitate adults to learn daily routines."
"The comedian imitated celebrity voices, drawing hearty laughs from the crowd."
Pronounced /ˈɪm.ɪ.teɪt/. The primary stress is on the first syllable: IM-i-tate. Break it into syllables: IM-uh-teyt. The middle syllable is a short, quick /ɪ/ as in 'sit', and the final is /eɪt/ as in 'wait'. In careful speech, the first vowel is a short /ɪ/, the second is a schwa-like quick /ɪ/ in many accents, and the last is a clear /eɪt/. Audio reference: [pronunciation resources] can model the exact mouth positions.
Two common errors are: misplacing the stress (placing it on the second or third syllable) and pronouncing the final /teɪt/ as /tɪt/ or /teət/. Correct these by ensuring the first syllable carries primary stress and final is a clear /eɪt/ with a light, elongated ending. Practice with careful division: IM-i-tate, not i-MI-tate or im-i-TATE. Use a mirror to align lips for the /m/ and /t/ transitions.
In US/UK/AU, initial /ˈɪ/ is shared, but rhoticity affects vowel length and rhymes. US accents often have a slightly more relaxed /ɪ/ and a pronounced finishing /eɪt/, while UK tends to crisper consonants with slightly shorter vowel durations; AU often merges some vowel qualities, yielding a neutralization toward /ɪ/ and a more clipped final /teɪt/. Stress remains on the first syllable in all. Use IPA as you listen to exemplars from each region to calibrate timing.
Difficulties center on the sequence of rapidly shifting vowels and consonants: the first syllable /ˈɪm/ begins with a bilabial nasal /m/ after a short /ɪ/, followed by a quick /ɪ/ in the second syllable, and an ending /teɪt/ with a tense diphthong /eɪ/. The transitions require precise tongue relaxation and lip rounding, plus maintaining constant voiced-voiceless transitions between /m/ and /t/. Mastery comes from slow, repeated drills emphasizing the final /eɪt/.
A unique feature is the glide in the final syllable: the /teɪt/ contains a rising diphthong where the tongue moves from a mid to high position toward the end. You should hold the /t/ cleanly before the final glide, avoiding an extra syllable or a reduced ending. Focus on the crisp onset of /ˈɪm/ and the abrupt, yet smooth, /eɪt/ closure as you finish the word.
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Imitate originates from the Latin imitatus, the past participle of imitari, meaning 'to copy, to imitate', formed from the root imit- meaning 'envy, copy' and the suffix -are indicating action. The root itself may be linked to the Latin word imit-, related to imitation and emulation. The word entered English via Old French imitate, likely through ecclesiastical and literary usage in the medieval period, evolving to denote formal copying or representation. In modern English, imitate broadened beyond simple copying to include mimicry of behavior, accent, voice, or technique, and can sometimes carry a nuance of admiration or critique depending on context. First known use in English attested in the 14th century, with later expansion in the 17th–19th centuries as studies of psychology, performance, and language acquisition popularized observational learning and replicative skills.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Imitate" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Imitate" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Imitate"
-te? sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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