2 syllables: Sul, fate. Stress on Sul.
SUHL-fayt
/ˈsʌˌlfeɪt/
Sulfate is pronounced SUHL-fayt (/ˈsʌˌlfeɪt/). It has two syllables (Sul-fate), with the stress on "Sul". As a noun, a chemical compound that contains the sulfate anion (SO4^2−) or a salt/ester derived from sulfuric acid. In everyday use, it refers to sulfuric acid salts, commonly encountered as part of fertilizers, cleaners, and minerals. In chemistry and industry, it denotes a class of compounds featuring the sulfate group attached to metals or organic moieties.
nounA chemical compound that contains the sulfate anion (SO4^2−) or a salt/ester derived from sulfuric acid. In everyday use, it refers to sulfuric acid salts, commonly encountered as part of fertilizers, cleaners, and minerals. In chemistry and industry, it denotes a class of compounds featuring the sulfate group attached to metals or organic moieties.
- You may trip on the /l/ followed by /f/: keep a crisp light /l/ before the /f/ to avoid slurring into /l/ or /f/. - The second syllable /feɪt/ often becomes /feət/ in casual speech; aim for /feɪt/ with a distinct long vowel. - Avoid reducing the first syllable; ensure the /ʌ/ remains rounded like in 'cup' and doesn’t shift toward /ə/. - Practicing with minimal pairs like sulfur/sulfate can help you hear the difference in context.
How to Pronounce Sulfate
"The farmer applied a sulfate fertilizer to boost soil nutrient content."
"Researchers studied the sulfate ions’ behavior in aqueous solutions."
"Some minerals crystallize as sulfate salts under specific environmental conditions."
US/UK/AU pronunciation is /ˈsʌlˌfeɪt/. The first syllable is stressed: SUL- (rhymes with bull). The second syllable is -fate, like fate without the e-length. Ensure the /ʌ/ as in 'cup' and the /eɪ/ as in 'day' are distinct; avoid reducing the second syllable. Tip: keep a crisp /l/ before /f/, then a clean /eɪt/ ending. Audio reference: search for ‘sulfate pronunciation’ in Pronounce or Forvo on your preferred accent. IPA: US /ˈsʌlˌfeɪt/, UK /ˈsʌlˌfeɪt/, AU /ˈsʌlˌfeɪt/.
Two frequent errors: (1) Misplacing stress, saying sul-FATE or SUL-fate with wrong emphasis. (2) Merging /l/ and /f/ into a single sound or sliding to /sʌlt/ or /ˈsʊlˌfeɪt/ without the crisp /l/ onset. Corrections: emphasize the first syllable with clear /l/, then release a distinct /feɪt/. Practice with a slow pace, then speed up while maintaining the vowel quality. Remember the final -ate sounds like /eɪt/, not /ət/ or /ət/.
In US, UK, and AU, the core is /ˈsʌlˌfeɪt/. The rhoticity in these accents doesn’t alter this word; rhotics are minimal here. Differences lie in vowel timing and linking in connected speech. The /æ/ in 'sul' can be slightly reduced in rapid speech to /ə/. Some UK speakers may slightly elongate the /fəɪ/ sequence, giving a longer glide. In Australian English, you may hear a tighter final vowel and a crisper /t/, but the IPA remains /ˈsʌlˌfeɪt/ for all three.
Key challenges are the two-stress pattern and the /l/ followed by /f/ sequence. The /l/ is a light, alveolar lateral; the transition to /f/ requires precise lips and tongue positioning to avoid an /l-f/ blend. The /eɪ/ glide should be distinct, not merged with the /t/. Practice separating the syllables: SUL – FATE, then combine. IPA cues: /ˈsʌlˌfeɪt/; mouth positions: tip of tongue near alveolar ridge for /l/, then lips rounded narrowly for /f/ and /eɪ/ glide.
A common user question is whether the word is pronounced with a long /eɪ/ in the second syllable or as a shortened /eɪ/ in rapid speech. The authoritative pronunciation preserves the long /eɪ/ as in ‘fate,’ with the primary stress on the first syllable. Clarify that ‘-ate’ in this chemical term is pronounced as /eɪt/, not /ət/ or /ɪt/.
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- US: /ˈsʌlˌfeɪt/ with clear /ɹ/ non-rhotic focus; AU: you’ll hear a slightly tighter vowel in the first syllable, but /ˈsʌlˌfeɪt/ remains. - UK: maintain non-rhotic quality, but ensure you don’t devoilate the /ɪ/ quality in nearby words; the emphasis stays on the first syllable. - Vowel notes: first syllable /ʌ/ like 'cup', second syllable /eɪ/ glide is important. - IPA reference: /ˈsʌlˌfeɪt/ across all three, with subtle length and timing differences in connected speech.
The word sulfate originates from the sulfur-containing radical SO4 in chemistry. It combines the root sul-, from sulfur, with the Latin suffix -ate, used in chemistry to denote an anion or a salt derived from an acid. The term appeared in English in the 19th century as inorganic chemists formalized names for polyatomic anions. Its etymology parallels other oxyanions like sulfite (SO3^2−) and sulfate’s analogous phosphate, nitrate, and carbonate groups. Historically, the term sulfate was used to describe salts of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and later to classify mineral species and synthetic compounds containing the SO4 group. In industry and academia, sulfate designations clarified reactivity, acid-base behavior, and coordination chemistry, maintaining the traditional -ate morphology that marks many ionic species derived from acids. The evolution of the concept reflected advances in inorganic chemistry, crystallography, and industrial synthesis, with first known uses surfacing in the mid-to-late 1800s as laboratories standardized nomenclature for mineralogy and chemical salts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Sulfate" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Sulfate" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Sulfate"
-ate sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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