3 syllables: in, di, cates. Stress on in.
/ˈɪndɪˌkeɪts/
Say it backIndicates is a verb meaning to show or suggest that something is true or exists. It conveys evidence or implication through signs, signals, or explicit statements. In usage, it often precedes a clause that details what is being shown or implied, and it can express directions, hints, or conclusions drawn from data or context.
- You might sculpture the /nd/ sequence too loosely, producing a blurred consonant blend. Correct by practicing /n/ and /d/ with a crisp stop, ensuring the tongue tip taps the alveolar ridge momentarily before releasing into /ɪ/. - The final /eɪts/ can slide into /eɪt/ or /eɪs/. Practice the /t/ release with a quick, clean stop and then a strong /s/; keep the airflow steady rather than letting it trail off. - Stress misplacement: many say in-DI-cates or IN-dicates with non-primary stress; retain primary stress on IN and keep the /d/ light to avoid pushing the second syllable too hard.
"The thermometer indicates a high fever."
"Her scroll through the map indicates where we should turn."
"The data indicates a trend toward rising temperatures."
Say IN-dih-kayts with primary stress on the first syllable. The /ɪ/ in the first vowel is the short 'ih' as inkit. The second syllable has a schwa-like quality /dɪ/ and the final -cates merges to /keɪts/ with a long a (/eɪ/) followed by a voiceless /t/ and /s/. IPA: /ˈɪn.dɪ.keɪts/. For audio references, check standard dictionaries (Cambridge, Oxford) and resources like Forvo for native speaker recordings.
Common errors include misplacing stress (e.g., pronouncing as in-di-CA-TS) or blending the -n- and -d- sounds awkwardly. Another mistake is pronouncing the final /ts/ as /t/ or not fully voicing the -s. Correction tips: keep primary stress on IN, ensure the /d/ is a clean, light stop between /n/ and /d/, then glide to /eɪts/ with a clear /eɪ/ and a final crisp /ts/ or /s/ depending on pace.
In US and UK, the initial /ɪ/ stays similar, but non-rhotic UK speakers may drop r-like influence only if present; for indicates there is no /r/ after the vowel anyway. Differences mainly occur in the final /eɪts/: US tends to have a slightly longer /eɪ/ and crisper /t/ in connected speech, while UK speakers may glide the /t/ into a light /t/ or /d/ depending on rhythm. Australian speakers: often flatter intonation, but the /ɪn.dɪ.keɪts/ remains recognizable with a slightly softer vowel on the second syllable.
The challenge lies in the sequence of consonants in the middle (/nd/), the need for clean /d/ closure between nasal and aspirated sounds, and finishing with a clear /eɪts/ cluster in a single breath. The shift from /ɪ/ to /d/ to /ɪ/ can feel tight, and the final /ts/ requires precise tongue tip contact to produce a crisp release. Practicing the exact tongue positions helps you articulate the word without slurring.
The key nuance is keeping the middle syllable /dɪ/ light and avoiding a heavy mid-syllable schwa that turns into /ɪ/. You’re aiming for a tight, quick transition from /n/ to /d/ to /ɪ/ before the rise into /keɪts/. Practically, it’s about balancing the nasal, stop, and glide sounds into a smooth, clipped final murmur. IPA: /ˈɪn.dɪ.keɪts/.
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- US: clear /ɪ/ in the first syllable, strong /keɪts/ ending; typical to hear a crisp /t/ and /s/ with little vowel reduction in connected speech. - UK: can sound slightly more clipped; may reduce the /ɪ/ in the second syllable to a near-schwa, but still maintain /keɪts/ at the end. Rhoticity is not a factor here since there is no /r/ after the vowel. - AU: tends to have flatter intonation; keep the /ɪ/ clear, avoid over-emphasizing the final /ts/; keep the /keɪts/ as a single syllable with a crisp release. IPA references: /ˈɪn.dɪ.keɪts/ across accents with minor vowel adjustments.
Indicates derives from the verb indicate, which comes from Latin indicare, formed from in- (toward, in) + dicare (to declare, proclaim). The Latin indicare meant to point out, declare, or make known. Through Old French and Middle English, the term evolved to its current sense of signifying or pointing out something to be inferred. The core idea of marking or pointing toward a meaning or fact persisted across centuries, with usage expanding from physical pointing or marking to more abstract signaling—such as data, symptoms, or implications—becoming common in scholarly, legal, and everyday language by the 16th–19th centuries. The modern form “indicate” appears in English texts from around the 15th century, with “indicates” as the third-person singular present used in contemporary speech and writing.
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Words that rhyme with "indicates"
-tes sounds
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