3 syllables: Mas, ti, cate. Stress on Mas.
MAS-tik-ayt
/ˈmæstɪˌkeɪt/
Masticate is pronounced MAS-tik-ayt (/ˈmæstɪˌkeɪt/). It has three syllables (Mas-ti-cate), with the stress on "Mas". Masticate is a verb meaning to chew food or to grind it with the teeth. It typically implies breaking down substances in the mouth for digestion and can be used in both clinical and everyday contexts. The term emphasizes the action of chewing rather than swallowing.
verbMasticate is a verb meaning to chew food or to grind it with the teeth. It typically implies breaking down substances in the mouth for digestion and can be used in both clinical and everyday contexts. The term emphasizes the action of chewing rather than swallowing.
- You will hear people over-suppress the final /t/ or swallow the final /t/ in fast speech; practice by exaggerating the /t/ release in slow speed, then reduce gradually. - The middle /ɪ/ can be confused with a schwa; keep it short and precise rather than neutralizing to /ə/. Practice by saying MA-sti-keɪt with a crisp middle vowel. - Final /eɪt/ can slide to /eɪ/ in casual speech; maintain the /t/ release and glide to /eɪt/.
How to Pronounce Masticate
"She learned how to masticate effectively to aid digestion."
"The researchers described the mammal’s ability to masticate tough plant fibers."
"Please don’t talk with your mouth full; you should masticate quietly."
Pronounce as MA-sti-cate, with primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈmæs.tɪ.keɪt/. The middle syllable uses a short, lax /ɪ/ as in 'bit', and the final syllable ends with /keɪt/ (like ‘cate’ in 'cate' or 'gate'). Mouth position: start with the jaw a little open, tongue low for /æ/, then raise the tongue for /tɪ/ and glide into /keɪt/ with a light touch of the tip to the alveolar ridge for /t/ before the long /eɪ/. Audio resources: check Cambridge/Oxford pronunciations or Forvo for native-speaker examples.
Common errors include: (1) stressing the wrong syllable, saying ma-STI-cate or mas-ti-CATE instead of MA-sti-cate; (2) mispronouncing the final -cate as /kət/ or /keɪt/ with reduced vowel, instead of the clear /keɪt/; (3) using a long /æ/ in the middle like 'masticate' with /æ/ shifted; fix by practicing with the mouth’s narrow front vowels and ensuring the final consonant cluster ends with a crisp /t/ before the /eɪt/.
US: /ˈmæs.tɪ.keɪt/ with rhotic? rhotic not affecting /r/. UK/AU: similar pattern but vowels can be shorter in clipped British and slightly different vowel quality in /æ/; US /ɪ/ vs UK /ɪ/ often similar; final /keɪt/ tends to be a clear /eɪt/. The main differences are vowel length and quality, with British tend to be crisper and Australian closer to American, but with less vowel saturation in some contexts.
The difficulty comes from the two unstressed segments around a stressed initial syllable and the final /keɪt/ onset cluster requiring a clear /k/ release into /eɪt/. The /æ/ in the first vowel and /ɪ/ in the second syllable can blur when speaking quickly. Additionally, the /t/ can be unreleased in casual speech, turning /keɪt/ into /keɪ/ or /ke/; practice by isolating the syllables and assigning exact timing.
Masticate has no silent letters, but the stress falls on the first syllable: MA-sti-cate. The final -ate forms /keɪt/, which is a common suffix pronunciation where -ate yields /eɪt/ in many English words. The middle syllable is short /ɪ/. The caution is ensuring the first vowel /æ/ is not reduced and the final /t/ is released clearly before the /eɪt/.
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US: rhotics do not affect this word; ensure you maintain a clear /æ/ then /ɪ/ and /keɪt/. UK: crisper vowel stops, more precise /t/ release before /eɪt/. AU: tends to be flatter vowel quality; still keep final /eɪt/ separate. IPA references: US /ˈmæs.tɪ.keɪt/, UK /ˈmæs.tɪ.keɪt/, AU /ˈmæs.tɪ.keɪt/.
Masticate comes from Latin masticāre, meaning to chew, grind, or gnash. The Latin root is mastic-, from masticāre, linked to masticus, a chewing action. The term extends from classical Latin into Late Latin as a formal verb for chewing. English borrowed masticate in the 15th-16th centuries, initially in medical or scholarly contexts before expanding to general use. The root mastic- is related to “masticatory,” which describes the act of chewing and the muscles involved. Historically, the word has retained a clinical or formal tone in modern usage, often appearing in medical, dental, or anatomical discussions. Over time, its usage broadened from literal chewing to figurative uses (e.g., to “masticate” a problem through careful consideration), though the primary sense remains physical chewing. First known uses in English appear in medical texts of the Renaissance, with broader literary adoption in the 18th and 19th centuries as anatomical and physiological vocabulary became common in education. The evolution reflects a shift from precise physiological description to more versatile usage while preserving the explicit act of chewing as the core meaning.
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Words that rhyme with "Masticate"
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