4 syllables: Re, i, ter, ate. Stress on i.
ree-IT-ur-ayt
/ɹiˈɪtɚˌeɪt/
Reiterate is pronounced ree-IT-ur-ayt (/ɹiˈɪtɚˌeɪt/). It has four syllables (Re-i-ter-ate), with the stress on "i". Reiterate is a verb meaning to say something again or a number of times, often for emphasis or clarification. It emphasizes repetition to ensure understanding, and is commonly used in formal, academic, or professional contexts. Its stress pattern typically places emphasis on the second syllable, signaling its repeated-speech function rather than a one-off statement.
nounReiterate is a verb meaning to say something again or a number of times, often for emphasis or clarification. It emphasizes repetition to ensure understanding, and is commonly used in formal, academic, or professional contexts. Its stress pattern typically places emphasis on the second syllable, signaling its repeated-speech function rather than a one-off statement.
Tip: practice with minimal pairs: reiterate vs. re-create; feel the shift in place and duration for each vowel.
How to Pronounce Reiterate
"The spokesperson reiterated the company’s commitment to safety."
"During the meeting, he reiterated the key points to ensure everyone understood."
"She asked him to reiterate his earlier statement for accuracy."
Break it as ri-É-ta-rate with primary stress on the third syllable: /riˈɪtəˌreɪt/ (US) or /riˈɪtəˌreɪt/ (UK/AU). The sequence is ri-ih-tuh-rayt; keep the /t/ consonants crisp and avoid sliding vowels. Start with /ri/ soft, then a clear /ˈɪ/ or /ɪ/ in the second syllable, followed by /tə/ and end with /reɪt/. Mouth position: lips neutral, tongue high for /ɪ/, tip of tongue on the alveolar ridge for /t/, and the final /eɪ/ is a glide into a long vowel before the final /t/. Audio resources: check Pronounce or Forvo for native speaker examples to match your accent.
Two common errors are stressing the wrong syllable and shortening the final /eɪt/ into a quick /eɪ/ or /ət/. Correct by maintaining primary stress on the third syllable: ri-ɪ-ˈtə-reɪt. Another error is merging the /t/ into a flap or a quick stop before the final /reɪt/, so practice a clean alveolar /t/ followed by /reɪt/ with a short release. Ensure the /ɪ/ is a crisp vowel in the second syllable and not a schwa in casual speech.
In US, you often hear /riˈɪtəˌreɪt/ with a non-rhotic perception of some vowel lengths, and a clear /t/ before /reɪt/. UK/AU maintain similar core vowels but may show a stronger /ɜ/ or reduced /ɪ/ in rapid speech, and Australian pronunciations might slightly shorten the first syllables and emphasize the second syllable differently, giving /riˈɪtəˌreɪt/ with faint vowel merging in connected speech. The main differences are vowel quality in /ɪ/ and the driving rhythm, not the fundamental consonants.
Two main challenges: syllable-timed rhythm with three prominent vowels across four syllables, and the long final /eɪt/ requiring a controlled glide into a tense /t/. The secondary stress on the third syllable can cause stress misplacement if you’re not careful. Additionally, keeping crisp /t/ consonants after a front vowel and avoiding a trailing weak vowel on the last syllable helps retain clarity in pacey speech.
Yes—its pronunciation hinges on a precise three-syllable rhythm with a noticeable peak on the third syllable. The sequence involves a clear /ri/ onset, a strong /ɪ/ in the second syllable, and a final /reɪt/ that demands a clean, taut /t/. Unlike some multi-syllable verbs, the 're-iterate' cadence invites a brief before-final pause in careful speech to separate the prefix and the root, aiding intelligibility in formal contexts.
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Reiterate comes from Latin reiterare, formed from re- (again) + iterare (to repeat), from iterum (again) and the root iter- (a going, a way, a path). The English form first appeared in the 16th century as reiterate or reiterate in legal and scholarly prose, meaning to perform or say again. Over time, the pronunciation settled toward re-eh-TEH-ray-tate in careful speech, with the modern emphasis on the second syllable in many dialects. The word maintains a formal tone and is frequently used in written and spoken contexts where precision or clarification is needed. Its meaning expanded from simply repeating to explicitly reinforcing a point for emphasis; the prefix re- combined with iterare mirrors the insistence on repeating prior statements for emphasis. First known uses come from English legal and scholastic texts that were heavily Latin-based, where reiterate carried the sense of reiterating arguments or conclusions. In contemporary English, reiterate has become a common choice in business, academic, and public-speaking registers, signaling deliberate repetition to aid understanding or to underline importance. The Latin lineage remains a reliable cue to its formal, precise connotation.
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Help others use "Reiterate" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Reiterate" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Reiterate" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Reiterate"
-ate 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.
