TAH-lur-ayt
/ˈtɑlɚˌeɪt/
tolerate is pronounced TAH-lur-ayt (/ˈtɑlɚˌeɪt/). Tolerate means to allow the existence, occurrence, or practice of something that one does not necessarily approve of, without interference or obstruction. It can also refer to enduring something difficult or unpleasant with patience. The term often appears in contexts of social norms, discomfort, or differing opinions, signaling a baseline permission or endurance rather than endorsement.
Tolerate means to allow the existence, occurrence, or practice of something that one does not necessarily approve of, without interference or obstruction. It can also refer to enduring something difficult or unpleasant with patience. The term often appears in contexts of social norms, discomfort, or differing opinions, signaling a baseline permission or endurance rather than endorsement.
- Mis-stressing the second syllable (to-LER-ate) instead of the natural to-LE-rate; fix by tapping finger on your throat when you feel the mid-syllable peak. - Overpronouncing the second vowel; keep the schwa /ə/ or /ə/ in /lə/ instead of a full /o/ or /ɜː/ sound. - Slurring the final /eɪt/ into a quick /t/; practice with a held /eɪ/ before the final /t/ to keep the melodic trailing edge. - Neglecting the final /t/; ensure a clean dental/alveolar /t/ without letting it become a soft stop. - Ignore the rounding of the first vowel; UK/AU typically have shorter /ɒ/ than US /ɑː/.
"I cannot tolerate the loud construction outside my window."
"She refused to tolerate disrespect from her colleagues."
"Many people will tolerate a certain level of discomfort if it leads to a greater goal."
Pronounce as to-LER-ate, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US /ˈtɑː.lə.reɪt/ or /ˈtɒl.ə.reɪt/, UK /ˈtɒl.ə.reɪt/, AU /ˈtɒl.ə.reɪt/. Start with an open, back starting vowel in the first syllable, then a clear schwa in the second, and finish with a stressed /eɪt/ in the third. Mouth positions: /t/ tip-at-alveolar, /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ open back, /l/ clear alveolar liquid, /ə/ quick neutral vowel, /reɪt/ diphthong ending with tense /eɪ/ and /t/.
Common errors: misplacing stress (to-LOE-rate), dropping the /l/ or turning /ə/ into a full vowel, and pronouncing /ˈtɒləˌreɪt/ with a simple /ɪ/ or /eɪ/. Correction: locate primary stress on the second syllable (to-LER-ate), ensure the /l/ is light but clear, use a true schwa in the second syllable before the /reɪt/ cluster, and finish with /eɪt/.
US: /ˈtɑː.lə.reɪt/ with rhotic r and longer first vowel. UK: /ˈtɒl.ə.reɪt/ with shorter, rounded /ɒ/ and non-rhotic r. AU: /ˈtɒl.ə.reɪt/ similar to UK but with distinct Australian vowel quality and a more centralized /ə/ in unstressed syllables. Across accents, the final /reɪt/ is consistent; the main variation is the first vowel and rhoticity.
Because of three factors: a) the three-syllable rhythm with mid stress on the second syllable demanding a precise /l/ and schwa rhythm; b) the diphthong /eɪt/ at the end requires a smooth glide from /e/ to /ɪ/ to /t/; c) subtle differences in /ɒ/ vs /ɑː/ across dialects affect how the first vowel sits in the mouth. Practice focusing on the secondary syllable’s vowel and the final onset-release cluster.
Is the 'te' in tolerate pronounced as a separate syllable or part of the /reɪt/ ending? It is a separate syllable: to-ler-ate, with the final /eɪt/ forming a distinct syllable and the preceding /lə/ being a schwa-like sound. Ensure you don’t merge the second and third syllables into a quick /ləreɪ/ cluster.
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- US: rhotic /ɹ/ influences consonant linking after r-sounds; maintain a clear, non-rhotic middle vowel. - UK: shorter /ɒ/ and less rhoticity; the /t/ is crisp and final. - AU: similar to UK, but with a more centralized schwa and slight rising intonation on questions. Use IPA cues: /ˈtɑː.lə.reɪt/ (US) vs /ˈtɒl.ə.reɪt/ (UK/AU).
Tolerate comes from the Latin tolerate, which itself derives from tolerare, meaning to bear, endure, or endure with patience. Tolerare is formed from tollere (to raise, bear, endure) combined with a causative or intensive suffix -are. The word passed into English via Old French tolerer before entering Middle English, retaining its sense of bearing or enduring something with forbearance. The semantic shift toward permitting or allowing—especially with a degree of restraint or conditional acceptance—gradually emerged in Early Modern English as social norms and laws formalized. First known use in English records appears in the 15th century, tied to the idea of enduring or permitting what is not wholly embraced, evolving into contemporary senses of enduring discomfort, allowing behavior, or tolerating difference. Over time, toleration has also carried political and ethical connotations, as in religious toleration or civil liberties, reflecting the balance between personal stance and communal coexistence.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "tolerate" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "tolerate"
-ate sounds
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