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How to Pronounce cite vs site

Key Pronunciation Contrast

Homophones (⁄saɪt⁄): ‘cite’ means to quote or reference, whereas ‘site’ is a physical or online location.

Contrast: Homophones: identical ⁄saɪt⁄

cite

⁄saɪt⁄

Syllables

CITE

Definition:

To quote; to repeat, as a passage from a book, or the words of another.

“WikiLeaks did not cause these uprisings but it certainly informed them. The dispatches revealed details of corruption and kleptocracy that many Tunisians suspected, but could not prove, and would cite as they took to the streets.”

site

⁄saɪt⁄

Syllables

SITE

Definition:

The place where anything is fixed; situation; local position

“the site of a city or of a house”

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Frequently Asked Questions: cite vs site

What is the difference in pronunciation between "cite" and "site"?

Homophones (⁄saɪt⁄): ‘cite’ means to quote or reference, whereas ‘site’ is a physical or online location.

Where does the syllable stress fall in "cite" vs "site"?

"cite" has 1 syllable(s) (cite) with stress on "CITE". "site" has 1 syllable(s) (site) with stress on "SITE".

Why do English learners often confuse "cite" and "site"?

Learners frequently confuse them due to the close sound contrast: Homophones: identical ⁄saɪt⁄. In rapid spoken English, context and vowel duration are the primary differentiators.

What are example sentences for "cite" and "site"?

Example for "cite": "WikiLeaks did not cause these uprisings but it certainly informed them. The dispatches revealed details of corruption and kleptocracy that many Tunisians suspected, but could not prove, and would cite as they took to the streets." Example for "site": "the site of a city or of a house"