4 syllables: Re, ta, li, ate. Stress on ta.
rit-AL-ee-ayt
/ɹɪˈtæliˌeɪt/
Retaliate is pronounced rit-AL-ee-ayt (/ɹɪˈtæliˌeɪt/). It has four syllables (Re-ta-li-ate), with the stress on "ta". Retaliate is a verb meaning to return harm or a perceived wrong with an equivalent or escalating action, often in response to provocation. It implies a conscious counteraction rather than passive reaction and is commonly used in legal, ethical, or interpersonal contexts. The nuance can range from formal condemnation to a strategic or emotional response.
verbRetaliate is a verb meaning to return harm or a perceived wrong with an equivalent or escalating action, often in response to provocation. It implies a conscious counteraction rather than passive reaction and is commonly used in legal, ethical, or interpersonal contexts. The nuance can range from formal condemnation to a strategic or emotional response.
"After the merger, the company vowed to retaliate against unfair practices by filing complaints with regulators."
"The defendant claimed she would retaliate if insulted again, which raised concerns about escalating the dispute."
"Harmful rumors circulated, but she chose not to retaliate and instead sought mediation."
Pronounce as /rɪˈtæl.iˌeɪt/ in US and UK (also /ˈrɪ.tæl.iˌeɪt/ with slight initial emphasis). Primary stress on the second syllable “ta,” with a secondary stress on the final “ate.” The first syllable is reduced to a quick /rɪ/ or /rə/ in casual speech. Mouth positions: start with a relaxed tongue for /r/, then lift the jaw slightly and place the tongue on the alveolar ridge for /tæl/, glide into a clear /i/ or /ɪ/ before the /eɪt/ diphthong. Listen for the final long /eɪt/ that trails upward. Audio reference: consult a pronunciation resource or native speaker clip to hear the rhythm.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying re-TA-liate with uneven emphasis), weakening the /t/ into a flap or /d/, and mispronouncing the final /eɪt/ as /ət/ or /iːt/. To correct: keep the secondary stress on the final syllable and articulate /t/ clearly between /æl/ and /iˌeɪt/. Practice the sequence /rɪ/ + /ˈtæl/ + /i/ + /eɪt/ with a short, crisp /t/ and a distinct /eɪt/. Record yourself and compare to a native speaker.
In US, pronunciation leans toward /rɪˈtæl.iˌeɪt/ with a rhotic initial /r/ and a clear /ɪ/ in the first syllable. UK often mirrors /rɪˈtæl.iˌeɪt/ but may have a non-rhotic tendency in some speakers, slightly weakening the /r/ before a vowel. Australian tends to be more pronounced with a slight lengthening of /ta/ and an airy /eɪ/ at the end, sometimes sounding like /rəˈtæl.iˌeɪt/ with minor vowel shifts. Overall, the core syllables stay intact, but the vowel heights and rhoticity vary.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic rhythm and the final /eɪt/ diphthong, which requires a precise glide from /e/ to /ɪ/ to /t/. The secondary stress on the final syllable can confuse learners who expect a single strong beat. The /t/ between /æl/ and /i/ should be crisp, not softened into a flap, especially in careful speech. Mastery comes from practicing slow, then increasing speed while maintaining clean articulation of each segment.
Focus on the stress pattern across four syllables: re-TAL-i-ate, with the primary stress on the second syllable and a secondary position at the end. The consonant cluster around the /t/ in the middle should be released clearly, and the final /eɪt/ should be a tight diphthong rather than a simple /e/ or /ɪ/. This combination—stress placement and precise final diphthong—defines natural, intelligent pronunciation.
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- US: rhotic /r/ and a prominent /ɪ/ in first syllable; keep the mouth rounded for /r/ but relaxed for /ɪ/. - UK: often non-rhotic; the /r/ is less pronounced; maintain clear /tæl/ and /eɪt/ with a slightly sharper /t/. - AU: tends to be more vowel-tuned; watch the final diphthong; keep the /æ/ near American /æ/ but with slightly longer duration. - IPA references: /rɪˈtæl.iˌeɪt/ (US), /rɪˈtæl.iˌeɪt/ (UK), /rəˈtæl.iˌeɪt/ (AU).
Retaliate comes from the Latin retaliatus, the past participle of retaliare, which is formed from re- (back, again) + tarus/talare (to bear, to bring). The concept entered English through legal and military contexts in the late Middle Ages, initially in phrases meaning to bring back a blow or punishment in kind. The root tarus is related to words denoting bearing or bringing, while re- is a productive prefix that signals repetition or back- motion. By early modern English, retaliate acquired a broader sense beyond physical punishment to include moral, political, or strategic responses to wrongdoing, often implying a calculated or proportionate counteraction. Over time, usage broadened to everyday rhetoric, sometimes carrying a negative connotation of vindictiveness, though it can also be used in formal critique of retaliatory policies. The word’s evolution reflects a consistent emphasis on reciprocity: the idea that an action is returned in a manner that mirrors or escalates the original act. First known use citations appear in legal tracts and diplomatic correspondence in the 16th–17th centuries, with a measurable rise in general prose in the 19th and 20th centuries as international relations and media discourse popularized the term.
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Words that rhyme with "Retaliate"
-ate sounds
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