Deteriorate vs deteriate?

Question

I have checked the dictionary and I can't seem to find this word 'deteriate', but I hear all sorts of people say it and I assume (from what they are talking about) this word really is deteriorate.

So why do you think these people think deteriate is a word?


Ty in advanced.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

I think it's probably just their accent or how they were raised to say it, because you're right "deteriate" definitely isn't a word. A lot of people I know say it and it's really annoying. You should just show them this link haha:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionar…

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks for the answer.

Answer 2

lack of culture

Answer 3

Deteriorate is the word, I guess when someone says deteriate (not a word), they are being lazy, or have a regional dialect that pronounces it as such, but the meaning is the same.

Answer 4

They are pronouncing the word like they hear it. No deteriate is not a word, but deteriorate is. Usually (not in all cases), people that mispronounce words cannot only enunciate the words properly, but they can't spell them as well or they would know the phonics.

Source(s):

Elementary School Teacher

Answer 5

They're possibly American. They do this to lots of words. Take ALUMINIUM for example!

Answer 6

Probably because the majority of people are not well educated and can neither read nor write well enough to explain themselves. Even professional people who ought to know better, cant spell for toffee! It is a sign of deteriorating educational standards everywhere.

Source(s):

cynical me

Answer 7

I agree with the person above me, they're prolly just Americans. People whose native language is english do this to a lot of words... english is my second language and I have better grammar than most people I know and we're all university students.

I know i spelled prolly instead of probably but im just being lazy lol...

Answer 8

You have guessed correctly. Deteriorate is correct "deteriate" means nothing. It is simply improper pronunciation by those saying "deteriate".

It reminds me of all the bozos who think "nucular" is a word (even some presidents). Sometimes I feel like screaming, "Geez, get a dictionary, dude!"