Aspirate Meaning in English

word

US

ˈæspɝˌeɪt

AS-per-ayt

UK

ˈæs.pə.ɹɪt

AS-puh-rit

Definition

To pronounce a sound with an extra puff of air, or to draw something (like liquid or food) into the lungs by accident.

Usage & Nuances

Formal/technical term, mainly used in linguistics (like 'aspirated consonant') and medicine. In speech, not all languages aspirate certain sounds (e.g., the 'p' in 'pin' is aspirated in English). In medicine, 'to aspirate' can refer to the process or an accident where something enters the lungs.

• Spanish: aspirar (mézclar aire al pronunciar) - aspirar (succionar)
• Portuguese (BR): aspirar (pronúncia) - aspirar (medicina)
• Portuguese (PT): aspirar (pronúncia) - aspirar (medicina)
• Chinese (Simplified): 送氣（語音學） - 吸入（醫學/誤吸）
• Chinese (Traditional): 送氣（語音學） - 吸入（醫學/誤吸）
• Hindi: आस्पिरेट करना (स्वर या चिकित्सा से संबंधित)
• Arabic: استنشق (نطق) - استنشق (طبي)
• Bengali: উচ্চারণে নিঃশ্বাস ছাড়া - ফুসফুসে কিছু প্রবেশ করানো
• Russian: проговаривать с придыханием - аспирировать (попадание жидкости/еды в лёгкие)
• Japanese: 息を出して発音する - 誤って（液体などを）肺に入れる
• Vietnamese: phát âm bật hơi - hít phải (chất lỏng/thức ăn vào phổi)
• Korean: 거센 소리로 발음하다 - (음식·액체를) 흡인하다
• Turkish: nefesle telaffuz etmek - akciğere kaçırmak
• Urdu: ہوا کے جھونکے کے ساتھ تلفظ کرنا - پھیپھڑوں میں کچھ کھینچ لینا
• Indonesian: mengucapkan dengan hembusan napas - menghirup (cairan/makanan ke paru-paru)

Example Sentences

English speakers aspirate the 'p' sound in 'pat'.

basic

Be careful not to aspirate food while eating.

basic

Doctors sometimes aspirate fluids from a patient’s lungs.

basic

You didn’t aspirate the 't' in 'top', so it sounded softer.

natural

He started coughing because he accidentally aspirated some water.

natural

In some languages, you have to remember which consonants to aspirate and which to leave unaspirated.

natural