How to Pronounce Legitimate

To pronounce "legitimate", say LEG-it-im-at-e — 5 syllables, IPA /ɫəˈdʒɪtəmət/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

legitimate

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Accent

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Speed

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5

Syllables

10

Letters

/ɫəˈdʒɪtəmət/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “legitimate”

"legitimate" has 5 syllables: leg-it-im-at-e. It rhymes with illegitimate, if that helps it stick.

What does legitimate mean?

noun

  1. A person born to a legally married couple.

verb

  1. To make legitimate, lawful, or valid; especially, to put in the position or state of a legitimate person before the law, by legal means.

adjective

  1. In accordance with the law or established legal forms and requirements.
  2. Conforming to known principles, or established or accepted rules or standards; valid.

    “legitimate reasoning; a legitimate standard or method”

Synonyms

legitimizelawfullegalrightful

Antonyms

bastardillegitimatefalse

Hear “legitimate” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with legitimate

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

illegitimate

Related words

lawfullegitimatizelegitimizevalidlegalrightfultruelogical

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "legitimate"?▾

"Legitimate" has 5 syllables: leg · it · im · at · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "legitimate"?▾

The IPA transcription of "legitimate" is /ɫəˈdʒɪtəmət/.

What does "legitimate" mean?▾

Legitimate: A person born to a legally married couple.

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