3 syllables: Per, me, ate. Stress on Per.
PUR-mee-ayt
/ˈpɝmiˌeɪt/
Permeate is pronounced PUR-mee-ayt (/ˈpɝmiˌeɪt/). It has three syllables (Per-me-ate), with the stress on "Per". Permeate is a verb meaning to spread or diffuse through something, especially to pass through and fill every part. It implies gradual penetration or diffusion that reaches broadly, often leaving a noticeable presence in the area affected. Commonly used for scents, liquids, or ideas moving through a space or group.
verbPermeate is a verb meaning to spread or diffuse through something, especially to pass through and fill every part. It implies gradual penetration or diffusion that reaches broadly, often leaving a noticeable presence in the area affected. Commonly used for scents, liquids, or ideas moving through a space or group.
"A warm scent permeates the air after the bakery opens."
"The new policy permeated all levels of the organization."
"Light from the lantern permeated the foggy night."
Pronounced /pər-ˈmiː-eɪt/ in US and UK; stresses the second syllable, yielding puh-MEET-ay. In IPA: US /pɚˈmiːeɪt/ or /pərˈmiːeɪt/, UK /pəˈmiːeɪt/. The mouth starts with a relaxed schwa, then a long 'mee' vowel, ending with a clear 'ate' as /eɪt/. Audio reference tip: listen to pronunciation dictionaries like Cambridge or Forvo and match the syllable timing: unstressed- stressed- stressed-final.
Two frequent errors: 1) Slurring the second syllable to /pərˈmi/ or misplacing the stress as /pərˈmiːt/; ensure the /iː/ is strong and the final /eɪt/ is clearly released. 2) Substituting /ɛm/ for /miː/ in the second syllable or saying /ˈpɜː(r)miːeɪt/. Correct by isolating the second syllable with a slight delay: puh-MEE-eɪt, then practice holding the /iː/ before the /eɪt/.
US typically: /pɚˈmiːeɪt/ with rhotic /ɚ/. UK: /pəˈmiːeɪt/ with non-rhotic /ə/ in first syllable. Australian: /pəˈmiːeɪt/ similar to UK but with Australian vowel quality (/ə/ reduced, broader vowel). The key differences are rhoticity and vowel length quality in the first syllable and the exact realization of /iː/ and /eɪ/. Practice by mimicking regional recordings and adjusting the vowel color accordingly.
The difficulty centers on the two- vowel sequence in the middle and the final /eɪt/ glide. The secondary stress subtly shifts the second syllable, and non-native speakers may cluster /miː/ with /iː/ or omit the final /t/. The challenge is maintaining even syllable length across /ˈmɪ/ and /eɪt/; using slow, isolated practice helps; then blend into connected speech. IPA cues: /pɚˈmiːeɪt/ (US), /pəˈmiːeɪt/ (UK).
A distinctive trait is the 2nd-syllable /miː/ vowel becoming the nucleus of a two-beat sequence when stressed: puh-MEET-ate; ensure the /miː/ is not reduced to a short /ɪ/ or /ɪə/ segment. Also, the final /eɪt/ should be a clean, crisp diphthong rather than a half-formed vowel. Emphasize the clear separation between /miː/ and /eɪt/ during practice.
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Permeate comes from Latin permeare, formed by per- meaning through or thoroughly and meare, a form related to ‘to pass or go.’ The Latin root is permeō, with permeāre meaning to pass through. In English, permeate appeared in the 17th century with sense of ‘to pass through or penetrate thoroughly.’ Over time, the sense broadened to include abstract diffusion (ideas, odors) as something gradually spreading through a material or space. The word retained its core physical sense while expanding to metaphorical domains, now commonly used for both tangible substances (light, water, odors) and intangible phenomena (influence, culture). The pronunciation has remained stable across dialects, though stress and vowel quality may vary slightly by accent. First known use is documented in early modern English writings, with examples describing liquids or gases spreading through fabrics or air, later expanding into metaphorical contexts in science and sociology.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Permeate" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Permeate"
-ate sounds
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