How to Pronounce “exhilarate”

American (US)

/ɪɡˈzɪləˌɹeɪt/

British (UK)

/ɪɡˈzɪləɹeɪt/

verb — To cheer, to cheer up, to gladden, to make happy, to elate.

Example: Good news exhilarates the mind; wine exhilarates the drinker.

The final e is silent. The transcription /ɪɡˈzɪləˌɹeɪt/ ends on a consonant sound, so the written e at the end of “exhilarate” is not pronounced.

Where the stress falls. “exhilarate” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ɪɡˈzɪləˌɹeɪt/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ɪɡˈzɪləˌɹeɪt/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "exhilarate" mean?

exhilarate (verb): To cheer, to cheer up, to gladden, to make happy, to elate. For example — Good news exhilarates the mind; wine exhilarates the drinker.

How do you pronounce "exhilarate" in American vs British English?

American English: /ɪɡˈzɪləˌɹeɪt/. British English: /ɪɡˈzɪləɹeɪt/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "exhilarate"?

/ɪɡˈzɪləˌɹeɪt/ in American English, /ɪɡˈzɪləɹeɪt/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "exhilarate"?

“exhilarate” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ɪɡˈzɪləˌɹeɪt/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.