WAW-tur-gayt
/ˈwɔtɚˌɡeɪt/
watergate is pronounced WAW-tur-gayt (/ˈwɔtɚˌɡeɪt/). Watergate refers to the political scandal of the 1970s involving a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and the subsequent cover-up by members of the U.S. government. The term now broadly denotes a major political scandal or crisis. It is also used as a proper noun for the period and events surrounding the investigation in American history.
Watergate refers to the political scandal of the 1970s involving a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters and the subsequent cover-up by members of the U.S. government. The term now broadly denotes a major political scandal or crisis. It is also used as a proper noun for the period and events surrounding the investigation in American history.
"The Watergate scandal led to the resignation of President Nixon."
"Journalists investigated the Watergate break-in for months, exposing illegal activities."
"In his memoir, he recounted how he got involved in the Watergate cover-up."
Pronounce it as /ˈwɔːtərˌɡeɪt/ in US and UK English. The first syllable WATER carries primary stress, followed by a secondary stress on GATE. The vowel in the first syllable is a long open-mid /ɔː/ in non-rhotic accents; in rhotic US, the first syllable still centers on /ˈwɔɹtər/ with a pronounced r. Keep /tər/ light, and ensure /eɪ/ in /ɡeɪt/ is clear, not reduced.
Common errors: 1) Dropping the /t/ in water, producing /ˈwɔːərˌɡeɪt/; 2) Merging /tər/ into a light /tər/ sound too quickly, resulting in /ˈwɔːrgət/; 3) Slurring the /ɡeɪt/ into /ɡeɪ/ or misplacing the secondary stress. Correction: enunciate /ˈwɔːtər/ with a crisp /t/ and an audible schwa‑like /ər/ before /ɡeɪt/. Practice isolating the /t/ and maintaining the glottal openness of /ər/ halfway between syllables to keep cadence accurate.
US: rhotic /ɹ/ in water; clear /ˈwɔɹtərˌɡeɪt/ with r-colored vowel. UK: nonrhotic; /ˈwɔːtəˌɡeɪt/ with reduced second syllable vowel and less pronounced r. Australia: similar to UK for nonrhotic vowel quality, but vowels may be broader; /ˈwɔːtəˌɡeɪt/. Emphasis remains on WATER; the nucleus vowels and r-coloring vary by region.
Difficulties stem from the cluster /tərɡ/ and the transition between /tə/ and /ɡeɪt/. The /t/ can be unreleased in rapid speech, and the /ər/ can become a schwa, obscuring the syllable boundary. Also, the sequence /tərɡ/ challenges timing: ensure the /t/ is sharp before the /ɹ/ or /ɹ/‑less articulation, then glide smoothly into /ɡeɪt/. Proper mouth posture for the /ɡ/ and /eɪ/ is essential to avoid a muddy blend.
Watergate is a two‑part proper noun with a strong initial syllable and a trailing /ɡeɪt/. The essential features are the crisp /t/ in 'wat', the /ər/ or /ə/ reduction before /ɡeɪt/, and the clear /eɪ/ in 'gate'. The secondary stress on the second element helps the term land as a political landmark in speech, so keeping the rhythm steady—two evenly paced syllables with a slight secondary lift on /ɡeɪt/—is key.
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The word Watergate originated as the name of a complex in Washington, D.C., but its meaning expanded dramatically after the Watergate break-in on June 17, 1972, at the Democratic National Committee headquarters located in the Watergate complex. The term was used in press coverage as a label for the scandal that followed, combining the place name with the suffix -gate, which has come to signify a political scandal. The etymology thus tracks from a geographic location to a symbolic marker of political scandal. The first known use of Watergate in reference to the scandal appeared in 1972 in American journalism, and over time the word entered common usage in political discourse, becoming a generic suffix for scandals (e.g., Lewinskygate, Irangate). The evolution reflects media shorthand that transforms a place name into a cultural signifier of wrongdoing and cover-up by powerful figures. In contemporary usage, Watergate can also reference any major investigative scandal, not just those involving the original break-in. Overall, the term exemplifies how a specific event embedded in a location can reshape language into a broader lexicon for political controversy.
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Words that rhyme with "watergate"
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