Learn how to pronounce the words MODERATE & MODERATE with this American English heteronym pronunciation lesson. Heteronyms are words that are spelled exactly the same. They just have a different pronunciation and a different meaning.

Pronunciation:

Noun: /ˈmɑdərət/

Verb: /ˈmɑdəˌreɪt/

Definition:

Noun: within reason, not excessive, or extreme.

Verb: to preside over.

Transcript:

Hey y’all Jennifer from Tarle speech with your heteronym lesson. Heteronyms are words that are pronounced differently even though they are spelled the same. They also have different meanings. Our words today are moderate which means keeping within reason, not excessive, or extreme. And moderate which means to preside over.

Let’s start with the beginning of these words because the sounds are exactly the same. Let’s start with the first syllable mod. To do this, you’re going to press your lips together for that M. Air is going to move out of your nose. Open wide for that oh. You can see tip of the tongue is super low in my mouth. Back of the tongue is pulled high up. My mouth is in an oval shape. Then you’re going to touch the tip of your tongue to the back of your top front teeth for that d d.
mod mod mod

Syllable number two: we’re going to move to ER. Square tense lips for this and then the tip of your tongue is either pointed down or flipped back. It’s not touching anything and the back of your tongue is pulled way high up and is tense mod ER mod er

Now for the difference in these last syllables. syllable. The last syllable in moderate is going to be it, just like the word. To do this short I sound ih. You can see my cheeks are somewhat relaxed. My lips are relaxed and the tip of my tongue is just at the back of my top front teeth and my tongue is relaxed in my mouth. ih ih ih

A lot of my students confuse it with the E and so I’ve been using this as a teaching tool the past several weeks. If you say e your tongue is too high and it is two tense. You need to relax and you can see that vowel will just correct itself just like that. Then touch the tip of your tongue to the back of your top Front Teeth. it

moderate moderate moderate

Now for the verb moderate, it’s just like the word ate, like I ate dinner. And to do this, you’re going to open your mouth wide a and then you’re going to close it to A Smile. As you do that the tip of the tongue is low the back of the tongue is pulled high up and then the tongue kind of goes along for the ride and it ends up flat in the top of your mouth. a a a

End with a t. You know the drill, touch the tip of your tongue to the back of your top Front Teeth. Put these all together.

moderate moderate

There’s also another tiny difference. I know you’ve heard it. We’re going to stress syllable number one in moderate. And to stress a syllable it’s louder, longer, and higher in Pitch. The other syllables must be shorter softer and lower in Pitch. So we are going to stress syllable number one in moderate moderate moderate

And syllable number three in moderate moderate moderate.

moderate moderate
moderate moderate

And now for a sentence:
The moderate news anchor will moderate the debate.

Give it a try I know people are going to notice the difference. If you found this helpful share this with your friends, leave us a comment, give us a like, and if you need help our classes and materials are listed at tarle speech.com.

Thanks so much!