3 syllables: Seg, reg, ate. Stress on Seg.
SEG-ruh-gayt
/ˈsɛɡɹəˌɡeɪt/
Segregate is pronounced SEG-ruh-gayt (/ˈsɛɡɹəˌɡeɪt/). It has three syllables (Seg-reg-ate), with the stress on "Seg". Segregate is a verb meaning to set people or things apart from others, often by separating groups or categories, sometimes by law or policy. It can also mean to separate components for analysis or processing. The term carries social and political weight in many contexts, and its use can reflect intent, ranging from lawful separation to discriminatory practice.
verbSegregate is a verb meaning to set people or things apart from others, often by separating groups or categories, sometimes by law or policy. It can also mean to separate components for analysis or processing. The term carries social and political weight in many contexts, and its use can reflect intent, ranging from lawful separation to discriminatory practice.
"The city decided to segregate waste into recyclable, compost, and landfill categories."
"Historically, laws attempted to segregate communities, leading to deeply entrenched social divisions."
"Researchers segregate data to analyze patterns without exposing individuals."
Pronounce as /ˈseɡrəˌɡeɪt/ (US) or /ˈseɡrɪˌɡeɪt/ (UK). Start with SEG- /ˈseɡ/, then -re-/rə/ or -rig-/ˈrɪɡ/, and end with -gate /ɡeɪt/. The primary stress is on the first syllable. Keep the second syllable lightly stressed and ensure the final /eɪt/ is a clear glide into the vowel. Try a brief mouth position checklist: sit jaw relaxed, lips neutral, tip of tongue lightly against lower teeth for the initial /s/ and /z/? Not /z/; it’s /s/; then mid-back tongue for /ɡ/; the /ɡ/ followed by /rə/ or /ɡrə/ before /geɪt/.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (declaring it as second syllable) and mispronouncing the -gate as /ɡət/ instead of /ɡeɪt/. Some speakers blur the /r/ in the middle, producing /ˈsɛɡrəˌɡeɪt/ or /ˈseɡrɪdʒeɪt/. Another frequent issue is the /ɡr/ sequence; practice the cluster carefully as /ɡrə/ or /ɡri/ depending on speaker. To correct: emphasize the first syllable, enunciate /ɡrə/ or /ɡri/ clearly, and finish with a crisp /eɪt/. Record yourself to check the final glide and stress pattern.
In US English, the pronunciation is /ˈseɡrəˌɡeɪt/ with a rhotic /ɹ/ in the medial syllable and a clear /eɪt/ at the end. UK English tends to have a slightly shorter /ɡriɡ/ or /ˈseɡrɪˌɡeɪt/ with less rhotic influence and a subtle difference in vowel length. Australian English mirrors general non-rhotic tendencies and a long final /eɪt/; the middle vowel can be more centralized /ɪ/ or /ə/. In all accents, the final stress on -gate remains prominent; ensure the /eɪ/ glide is clean and not swallowed. IPA notes: US /ˈseɡrəˌɡeɪt/, UK /ˈseɡrɪˌɡeɪt/, AU /ˈsɛɡrəˌɡeɪt/ with slight vowel shifts.
It’s a two-syllable division with a tricky -gate ending and a middle /ɡr/ cluster. The first syllable carries strong stress, which can tempt you to shorten or flatten the middle /rə/ to /rə/ or /ri/. The /ɡr/ cluster after the first two consonants can trip up non-native speakers, and the ending /eɪt/ requires a clear glide to avoid a stuck or muffled final consonant. Focus on a crisp /ˈseɡrəˌɡeɪt/ with distinct /ɡ/ and /eɪt/; practice with minimal pairs to anchor the rhythm.
A unique point for Segregate is the repeated /ɡ/ in the sequence seg-ra-ɡeɪt, which risks blending. The sequence /ɡrəˌɡeɪt/ can blur into /ɡrədʒeɪt/ for some speakers if not careful with the /r/ and /g/ timing. Ensure the two /ɡ/ consonants are distinct and separated by a brief vowel; the second /ɡ/ should be firmly released into /eɪt/. Practicing with a short phrase like Its important to seg-re-gate data helps cement the cadence.
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US: rhotic /ɹ/ in the middle can appear; keep the middle vowel /ə/ to /ɪ/ depending on speaker; the final /eɪt/ is a clear long diphthong. UK: non-rhotic options may drop rhoticity in post-vocalic positions; ensure /ˈseɡrɪˌɡeɪt/ or /ˈseɡrɪˌɡeɪt/ with a crisp /eɪt/. AU: tends toward broader vowels; middle could be /ə/ or /ɪ/; final /eɪt/ is held with steady glide. IPA references: US /ˈseɡrəˌɡeɪt/, UK /ˈseɡrɪˌɡeɪt/, AU /ˈsɛɡrəˌɡeɪt/. Implement a closed mouth position for /s/ and /ɡ/ and practice the /ɡr/ cluster with a short vowel before. - Vowel quality: the first /e/ in SEG is actually /e/ or /ɛ/ in some dialects; aim for /e/ in GA-level accuracy, adjusting toward /ɛ/ only in some UK dialects. - Consonants: ensure /s/ is clean, not /z/; /ɡ/ is velar plosive; avoid fricative. - Stress: keep primary on first syllable; secondary stress on the second syllable is minimal.
Segregate comes from the Latin segregare, comprised of se- ‘apart, aside’ + segrare ‘to separate, pick out,’ from secare ‘to cut.’ The word entered English in the 16th–17th centuries with senses tied to separation of people or groups. It evolved from general ‘set apart’ to more specialized social usage, notably in legal, sociopolitical contexts about separating races or classes. The full form segregarus appeared in early legal Latin adaptations, and as English absorbed the concept, it gained common usage in anthropology and data processing. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the term broadened to scientific uses like data segregation, while also maintaining its charged social implications. First known use in print traces to documents discussing separation of groups in civic life, with the sense sharpening around policy and institutional practices by the mid-1800s. Modern usage spans civil rights discussions and technical settings, with nuance reflecting intent and context. The etymological arc shows a shift from generic separation to a morally and legally loaded term, retained in many languages with cognate forms that imply a deliberate or systematic division.
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Words that rhyme with "Segregate"
-ate sounds
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