3 syllables: Mi, ti, gate. Stress on Mi.
MIT-uh-gayt
/ˈmɪtəˌɡeɪt/
Mitigate is pronounced MIT-uh-gayt (/ˈmɪtəˌɡeɪt/). It has three syllables (Mi-ti-gate), with the stress on "Mi". Mitigate is a verb meaning to make something less severe, painful, or harmful. It often refers to actions or measures that reduce negative impact, risk, or intensity. In formal contexts, it implies applying safeguards or remedies to lessen consequences while acknowledging that the issue persists.
nounMitigate is a verb meaning to make something less severe, painful, or harmful. It often refers to actions or measures that reduce negative impact, risk, or intensity. In formal contexts, it implies applying safeguards or remedies to lessen consequences while acknowledging that the issue persists.
- You may double-voice: trying to clutch two vowels together in MITI-gate; instead, keep a crisp syllable break between /tɪ/ and /ɡeɪt/. - Rushing the /ɡeɪt/ portion, making it sound like /geɪ/; ensure the /t/ release flows into /ɡ/ with a short pause rather than a glottal stop. - Substituting a soft or fricative end, turning /ɡeɪt/ into /ɡeɪ/ or /ɡeɪt/ into /geɪt/; keep the final /t/ clear to avoid vowel bleed.
How to Pronounce Mitigate
"The company implemented new safety protocols to mitigate the risk of accidents."
"Efforts to mitigate climate change include reducing emissions and adopting renewable energy."
"The medication was taken to mitigate the side effects of the treatment."
Mitigate is pronounced /ˈmɪtɪˌɡeɪt/ in US English and /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/ in UK/AU English. Primary stress falls on the first syllable: MIT-, with a secondary, light stress or a glide into -gate. Tip: keep the /ɡ/ as a hard stop before the /eɪ/ vowel; avoid a long /iː/ in the second syllable. Listen for the clear /t/ and the final /eɪt/ combination.
Two frequent errors: (1) misplacing primary stress on the second syllable, saying mi-TI-gate; (2) omitting the /t/ or turning it into a softer sound, resulting in mi-ɡeɪt. Correct by emphasizing MIT- and keeping a crisp /t/ between /ɪ/ and /ɡeɪt/. Practice with a tiny pause between syllables: MIT-ɪ-ɡeɪt, then run together: ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt.
US tends to have a clearer /t/ and a subtle /ɪ/ vowel in the second syllable, with /ˈmɪtɪˌɡeɪt/. UK/AU share /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/ but may have slightly tighter vowel quality and less rhoticity in some speakers; rhotic influence is minimal here since the word doesn’t end in a rhotic sound. Overall, the core is MIT-ɪ-ɡeɪt across accents, with minor vowel length differences.
The challenge lies in maintaining accurate syllable stress while delivering a clean /t/ followed by the /ɡeɪt/ sequence. The /ɪ/ vowel in the middle can be quick but must be distinct to avoid slurring into -gate. Additionally, the sequence /tɪɡ/ requires precise tongue-tip contact for /t/ and immediate transition to /ɡ/ without a pause. Practice with byte-sized chunks to stabilize rhythm.
A notable feature is the tight bond between the /t/ and /ɡ/ in many speakers, which can blur into a single alveolar release if rushed. Aim for a clean boundary: /t/ as a plosive, then a crisp onset of /ɡeɪt/. This makes MIT-ɪ-ɡeɪt clear in rapid speech and helps with intelligibility in formal contexts.
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- US: stronger rhotic influence may subtly color surrounding vowels but MIT-ɪ-ɡeɪt remains with a crisp /t/; focus on a stable /ɪ/ in the second syllable and a clear /eɪ/ in the final syllable. - UK: slightly shorter /ɪ/ and less vowel length variation; maintain sharp /t/ release and avoid vowel lengthening before /eɪt/. - AU: tends to be even more clipped in some speakers; keep the same sequence but with slightly more clipped vowels; ensure /t/ is released clearly into /ɡeɪt/. - IPA references: /ˈmɪtɪˌɡeɪt/; practice with slow to normal tempo to lock in the rhythm.
Mitigate comes from the Latin mitigare, meaning to soften or make milder. Mitigare is formed from mitis 'soft, gentle' and agere 'to drive, do, act' (related to action and movement). The word entered English through Old French mitigate, later reinforced by Latin roots in legal and rhetorical language. The earliest uses in English appear in medieval texts discussing the mitigation of penalties or harms. Over time, the sense broadened to include reducing risks, damages, and negative consequences in various domains—law, medicine, environment, and policy—retaining the core idea of softening impact rather than eradicating it completely. In modern usage, mitigate often accompanies nouns like risk, damage, impact, and consequences, signaling proactive rather than passive reduction.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Mitigate" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Mitigate" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Mitigate"
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