2 syllables: in, take. Stress on in.
/ˈɪˌnteɪk/
Say it backIntake refers to the act of receiving or taking in something, such as air, information, or food. It can denote the process of intake in medical or engineering contexts, or the quantity consumed over a period. It also appears in phrases like take-in, intake data, and intake process within organizational or nutritional discussions.
- Two key phonetic challenges: the /ɪ/ vs. /iː/ quality in the first syllable; and the crisp realization of the /teɪk/ syllable ending with /k/. If you soften the /t/ or merge /n/ and /t/ too closely, you’ll produce /ɪntæːk/ or /ɪnˌteɪk/ with reduced clarity. - Correction steps: 1) Practice isolated consonants: /ɪ/ and /n/ in /ˈɪn/; 2) Drill the /teɪk/ cluster by saying /t/ with a brief stop then glide into /eɪ/ and finalize with /k/; 3) Use minimal pairs to train the boundary: /ɪn/ vs /ɪnˈ/ and /teɪk/ vs /tiːk/; 4) Record and compare to a reference; aim for steady, non-tensed mouth posture.
"The intake of air should be steady and through the nose to maximize filtration."
"The nutritionist logged her daily caloric intake for the week."
"The machine's intake valve controls the amount of fuel-air mixture entering the engine."
Pronounce as /ˈɪnˌteɪk/, with primary stress on the first syllable. The first vowel is a short /ɪ/ as in kit, followed by the consonant cluster /n/. The second syllable contains /teɪk/, a long A sound as in take, ending with /k/. Keep the tongue high for /ɪ/ and then glide into the diphthong /eɪ/ without inserting an extra consonant in between. In connected speech, the two syllables flow together: /ˈɪnˌteɪk/.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (saying /ɪnˈteɪk/ with stress on the second syllable) and shortening the second syllable to /tɪk/ or /teɪk/ without the final /k/. Some speakers insert an extra consonant, like /ˈɪn.tæʃk/ or /ˈɪn.teɪk/. To correct: keep primary stress on the first syllable, ensure the /ɪ/ in the first syllable is lax but not reduced, clearly articulate /teɪk/ as a clean /t/ plus /eɪ/ plus final /k/, and avoid inserting extra vowels or consonants between /n/ and /t/.
In US, UK, and AU, the word is /ˈɪnˌteɪk/ with primary stress on the first syllable and a clear /eɪ/ diphthong in the second syllable. Rhotic variations do not affect pronunciation here; all three varieties maintain the /ɪ/ and /eɪ/ sequence. Australians often maintain crisp pronunciation of /t/ and /k/; Americans tend to slightly reduce the first syllable vowel in rapid speech, but not to the point of /ɪnˈteɪk/. In careful speech, all share the same structure, but tempo, vowel length, and intonation can vary subtly by region.
The difficulty comes from the subtle contrast between /ɪ/ in the first syllable and the high front position of the second syllable’s /eɪ/; the rapid transition between /ɪ/ and /n/ and then into /teɪ/ can cause vowel shift or imprecise tongue movement. Also, the word’s two-stress pattern in connected speech can blur the boundary, especially in rapid phrasing. Focusing on a clean onset for /ɪn/ and a crisp /teɪk/ with controlled airflow will reduce common slurring.
Key tip: keep the second syllable tightly aligned as /teɪk/ with a distinct onset /t/. Many learners run /t/ into /eɪ/; emphasize /t/ as a separate, brief stop before the /eɪ/ glide, and ensure the final /k/ is released clearly. This helps prevent a hypoarticulated or elongated /teɪk/ that can sound like /tiːk/ or /teɪk/ with a vowel shift.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "intake"!
Intake comes from the verb phrase to take in, with the noun form developed in Middle English from Old English tacnian? No, actual etymology: The noun intake derives from the Old English in-tæcan? No. The correct lineage traces intake to the phrase to take in, with intake as a compound noun recorded in the 17th century. The element take is from Old English tacian (to seize, grasp) or tegian? The modern sense of receiving or admission grew from the idea of “taking in” or drawing something toward oneself. Over time, intake acquired specialized technical uses in medicine, nutrition, engineering, and environmental science, referring to the amount or rate of something absorbed, admitted, or drawn into a system (e.g., air intake in engines, nutrient intake in biology). The term broadened into routine and policy-language (intake forms, intake interviews), and remains ubiquitous across disciplines, often paired with measure words like daily intake, intake rate, or intake capacity. First known use as a construct in English likely appears in late Middle English or early Modern English, with precise earliest cited quotations difficult to pin down due to its conversational origin as a compound verb phrase becoming a standalone noun.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "intake" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "intake" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "intake" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "intake"
-ake sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
