2 syllables: Plat, eau. Stress on eau.
plat-OH
/plæˈtoʊ/
Plateau is pronounced plat-OH (/plæˈtoʊ/). It has two syllables (Plat-eau), with the stress on "eau". Plateau (noun) refers to a flat, elevated landform or an extended period during which a condition or level remains unchanged. It can describe geographic high ground, a plateau in growth or performance, or any phase with little or no progress lasting longer than a brief fluctuation. The term conveys stability at a elevated, plateau-like state.
nounPlateau (noun) refers to a flat, elevated landform or an extended period during which a condition or level remains unchanged. It can describe geographic high ground, a plateau in growth or performance, or any phase with little or no progress lasting longer than a brief fluctuation. The term conveys stability at a elevated, plateau-like state.
How to Pronounce Plateau
"The hikers reached a rocky plateau that offered sweeping views of the valley."
"After months of steady growth, sales hit a plateau and referrals became our new focus."
"The patient’s recovery reached a plateau, signaling the need for a new treatment approach."
Plateau is pronounced plə-TOH, with primary stress on the second syllable. The first syllable is a reduced schwa /plə/ and the second is the diphthong /toʊ/ (US/UK/AU). Think 'pluh-TOH.' In IPA: US/UK/AUS: pləˈtoʊ. Visualize rounding the lips into a mid-back vowel onset before the closing /oʊ/ glide. Audio references: you can compare with dictionary pronunciations and native speaker samples to reinforce the /toʊ/ ending.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (saying PLA-teau) and treating the second syllable as /təw/ or /tuː/ instead of /toʊ/. Some learners also shorten the final vowel, giving /pləto/ or /plætˈoʊ/. Correction tips: emphasize the second syllable with full /toʊ/ and keep the first syllable as a quick, unstressed /lə/ or /lə/; practice the /toʊ/ diphthong by gliding from /o/ to /ʊ/ with rounded lips. Practice with minimal pairs like goʊ vs. toe to feel the correct rounding and movement.
In US/UK/AU, the second syllable carries the strong /toʊ/ diphthong, but vowel quality can vary: Americans may have a tighter jaw and a more open-mid onset; Brits often retain a crisper /ə/ in the first syllable and a gliding /oʊ/ with less rounding; Australians may have a lighter, slightly flattened /oʊ/ with less rhotic influence. The initial consonant /pl/ remains consistent. Notably, some UK accents may reduce the /t/? to a flap in rapid speech, but plateau typically preserves /t/ sound in careful speech.IPA references: US pləˈtoʊ, UK pləˈtoʊ, AU pləˈtoʊ.
Difficulties stem from the unstressed first syllable /plə/ plus the strong, rounded /toʊ/ in the second syllable, which requires a precise lip rounding and jaw adjustment to hit the /oʊ/ glide smoothly. The proximity of /l/ and /t/ can cause a rushed transition, and non-native speakers may either insert an extra vowel or omit the final /oʊ/. Mastery comes from isolating the /ə/ reduction, shaping the /toʊ/ with lip rounding, and practicing the transition as a clean diphthong. IPA: pləˈtoʊ.
Plateau’s nuance lies in maintaining a clear, unstressed first syllable and ensuring a clean, rounded /oʊ/ glide in the second syllable. The rhythm is two syllables with a strong rise in pitch on the second syllable in careful speech. In some rapid or connected speech, you might hear a slightly reduced /pləˈtoʊ/ with less vowel duration in the first syllable. Remember: stress on the second syllable, keep /t/ unreleased in careful speech, and round your lips for /oʊ/.
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Plateau comes from French plateau, from Old French plat, meaning flat or level, and the diminutive suffix -eau, which turned flat into something flat or level in elevated form. The path of the word into English traces to late Middle English usage, reflecting a geographic sense of elevated flat land. The geographic sense appeared first in maps and descriptions of mountainous or high-altitude regions, then broadened to describe abstract states of stability or stagnation in fields like economics, physiology, and social progress. The root plat shares a common lineage with Latin planus (flat, level). By the 19th century, plateau was standard in geology and geography to denote a broad region of comparatively flat terrain elevated above surrounding land. The term gradually adopted figurative uses in science and business to indicate stages where progress stalls temporarily before another change occurs. First known uses in English literature and travel writing appeared in the 18th century, but the precise modern sense of a flat-topped elevated area appears in 19th-century geological texts, popularized in maps and later in academic and popular discourse. The word’s evolution mirrors a human need to describe both literal landscapes and metaphorical phases of growth and development.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Plateau" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Plateau" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Plateau"
-oat sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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