Meaning of Quote

1. Forgetting the 'w' sound and saying 'kote' instead of 'kwote'. 2. Using a short 'o' sound (kwaht). 3. Dropping the final 't' sound. 4. Confusing it with 'coat', which has no 'w' sound.

American Pronunciation

In American English, 'quote' is pronounced /kwoʊt/. It consists of a single syllable with a long 'o' sound.

Say it like this: KWOHT.

British Pronunciation

In British English, the pronunciation is identical: /kwəʊt/.

Say it like this: KWOHT.

IPA

The IPA transcription is /kwoʊt/. The symbol /k/ is the 'k' sound, /w/ is the 'w' sound, /oʊ/ is the long 'o' diphthong, and /t/ is the voiceless 't' sound.

Syllables

'Quote' has one syllable. It is a single, unbroken sound.

Stress

Being a monosyllable, the entire word carries the stress.

Pronunciation Tips

• The 'qu' in 'quote' makes a 'kw' sound, like in 'queen' or 'quest'.
• The 'o' makes a long 'o' sound, like in 'go' or 'boat'.
• It rhymes perfectly with 'note', 'boat', and 'coat'—but include the 'w' sound.
• Do not use a short 'o' sound (kwaht is incorrect).
• Keep it to exactly one syllable.
• Ensure the final 't' is pronounced sharply and not swallowed.
• Do not confuse the pronunciation with 'coat' (which has no 'w' sound).
• Practice saying 'direct quote' to get the natural rhythm.

Etymology

The word 'quote' comes from the Medieval Latin word 'quotare', meaning 'to number or mark with numbers', which is derived from the Latin 'quot' (how many).

History

Entering English in the late 14th century, 'quote' originally referred to the numbering of textual passages for reference, particularly in manuscripts. By the 16th century, it had shifted to mean the act of citing or reproducing those numbered passages. The commercial sense of 'stating a price' developed in the 19th century.

Language Origin

'Quote' has Latin roots. The root 'quot' (how many) is also the source of English words like 'quota', 'quotient', and 'quantity'.

How Meaning Changed Over Time

It shifted from the literal numbering of manuscript lines to the act of reproducing cited words, and eventually expanded to include the commercial act of stating a numerical price.

Interesting Historical Facts

The connection between 'quote' and 'quota' is direct. Both stem from the Latin 'quot' (how many). Originally, quoting meant 'marking how many' passages were in a text. Today, one counts words to cite them, and the other counts quantities for limits.

Short Definition

To repeat or copy the exact words of someone else; a passage cited from a text or speech; an estimated price for a service.

Simple Definition

To quote means to repeat exactly what someone else said or wrote. As a noun, a quote is the exact words you copied, or an estimated price for a job.

Detailed Definition

As a verb, 'quote' means to repeat or reproduce the exact words spoken or written by another person, typically with acknowledgment of the source. It also means to state a price for a service or good. As a noun, it refers to the passage or words being cited, or a formal estimated price for a job or service. The word bridges the gap between academic citation, journalism, and commercial pricing.

Student Definition

Quote means saying the exact same words someone else said. If your teacher says 'practice makes perfect' and you tell your friend those exact words, you are quoting her. A quote can also be a price, like when a mechanic gives you a quote to fix your car.

Writer Definition

For writers, 'quote' is a tool of authority and evidence. Quoting a source lends credibility to an argument. In fiction, a character quoting another character (or a sacred text) reveals their values and education. Use it to anchor claims in fact, to pay homage, or to let another voice speak through your narrative.

Verb, Noun

A verb expresses an action (the act of citing words or stating a price). A noun represents a thing or idea (the cited passage or the price estimate). 'Quote' can be both.

How It Functions

As a transitive verb, it takes a direct object ('She quoted the president'). As a noun, it acts as a subject or object ('That is a famous quote').

Grammar Usage

Verb (cite): 'He quoted Shakespeare during the speech.' Verb (price): 'The contractor quoted $5,000 for the renovation.' Noun (citation): 'That's a great quote from the movie.' Noun (price): 'Can I get a quote for the repairs?'

Sentence Placement

As a verb, it follows the subject: 'She quoted the passage.' As a noun, it appears in subject or object positions: 'The quote is accurate.'

To pronounce "Quote" like a native American English speaker, follow these simple steps.

Step 1: The Initial Consonant Blend

Start with the 'k' sound. Press the back of your tongue against the roof of your mouth and release a puff of air. Immediately follow it with the 'w' sound by rounding your lips. Together, they make the 'kw' blend.

Step 2: The Vowel

Move into the long 'o' diphthong /oʊ/. Round your lips as you make the sound, similar to the word 'go' or 'boat'.

Step 3: The Final Consonant

End with a sharp, voiceless 't' sound. Place your tongue behind your upper teeth and release the air cleanly.

Step 4: Put It Together

Say the full word: KWOHT. It is one smooth syllable. Ensure the 'w' is clearly pronounced so it doesn't sound like 'coat'.

"Quote" has 1 syllables: quote.

Breaking the word apart:

• Stress Pattern: Stressed

When you write the word with a syllable break for a dictionary, you write: quote.

The IPA transcription of "Quote" is /kwoʊt/. Let's break down each symbol so you can read it confidently.

Put together, the IPA /kwoʊt/ provides a precise guide on how to articulate the word.

Imagine you are writing an essay about climate change. You find a powerful sentence from a scientist's article. Instead of paraphrasing it in your own words, you copy the scientist's exact sentence and put it in quotation marks. That act of copying is 'quoting', and the copied sentence is a 'quote'.

In business, 'quote' takes on a numerical meaning. When you call a plumber to fix a leak, they look at the job and tell you it will cost $300. That $300 estimate is a 'quote'. They are quoting you a price for their service.

A Simple Diagram

The Key Idea

'Quote' represents the faithful reproduction of someone else's words or a stated numerical estimate. It bridges the worlds of citation, journalism, and commerce.

Use "Quote" in the following contexts. It works in various situations, from casual conversation to formal writing. Below are specific examples where the word fits perfectly.

In Conversation

Talking about a movie.

Example: "Can I quote you on that? It was the funniest thing I've heard all week."

In School

Writing an essay.

Example: "The professor told us to quote at least three primary sources in our research paper."

In an Essay

Citing evidence.

Example: "The author quotes Martin Luther King Jr. to strengthen her argument for civil rights."

In Books

Using dialogue.

Example: "She quoted the poem from memory, her voice trembling with emotion."

In News

Reporting on a speech.

Example: "The senator was quoted as saying the new bill would 'change the face of healthcare.'"

In Movies

A dramatic moment.

Example: "Don't quote me out of context! That's not what I meant at all."

In Presentations

Using authority.

Example: "I'd like to quote a recent study that supports our new marketing strategy."

1. Do Not Use 'Quote to Do'

Do not say 'She quoted to say that'. The correct grammar is 'She quoted him as saying that' or 'She said that'.

2. Do Not Use for Paraphrasing

If you summarize someone's words in your own language, you are 'paraphrasing', not 'quoting'. Quoting requires exact reproduction.

3. Do Not Use as an Adjective

You cannot say 'a quote mark'. The correct term is 'quotation mark' or 'quote marks' (plural).

4. Do Not Confuse with 'Quota'

'Quota' is a numerical limit or share. 'Quote' is a cited passage or price estimate. They share a root but mean entirely different things.

5. Do Not Use 'Quote About'

Do not say 'He quoted about the law'. Say 'He quoted the law' or 'He quoted a passage about the law'.

6. Do Not Use for General References

If you mention that an author 'talks about love', you are referencing, not quoting. Quoting requires using their exact words.

1. Can I quote you on that? It was the funniest thing I've heard all week.
2. The mechanic quoted me $500 to fix the brakes, so I'm getting a second opinion.
3. My teacher has a quote from Einstein on her classroom wall.
4. She quoted her favorite movie so often that we all started saying the lines too.
5. I asked three contractors for quotes on the kitchen renovation.
6. He quoted the Bible during the wedding ceremony.
7. That's a misquote; I never said anything like that.
8. The insurance company quoted me a monthly premium of $120.
9. She wrote down the quote from the book so she wouldn't forget it.
10. Don't quote me on this, but I heard the company is going bankrupt.

1. The professor told us to quote at least three primary sources in our research paper.
2. The student quoted a passage from Shakespeare to support her thesis.
3. The teacher asked us to find a famous quote about courage for our essay.
4. He was quoted in the school newspaper as saying the cafeteria food needed improvement.
5. The textbook quotes several experts on the causes of the Civil War.
6. She used quotation marks to show which words were quoted from the original text.
7. The debate team quoted statistics from a recent study to strengthen their argument.
8. The professor warned us not to quote Wikipedia as a reliable source.
9. I highlighted the quote in the article so I could find it easily later.
10. The librarian showed us how to properly format a block quote in MLA style.

1. The contractor quoted $50,000 for the office renovation project.
2. The CEO was quoted in the Wall Street Journal as saying profits would double.
3. Please send me a quote for 500 units of the product.
4. The marketing brochure quotes a satisfaction rate of 98 percent.
5. We received three competing quotes for the IT infrastructure upgrade.
6. The salesperson quoted a delivery time of two to three weeks.
7. The article quotes an industry analyst who predicts a market downturn.
8. The client asked for a written quote before approving the project.
9. The company quotes a 24-hour response guarantee on all customer inquiries.
10. The annual report quotes the founder's original mission statement.

1. The article quotes a leading climate scientist on the urgency of reducing emissions.
2. The senator was quoted as saying the legislation would 'fundamentally transform' the healthcare system.
3. The committee requested a formal quote from each bidding contractor.
4. The scholar quotes extensively from primary sources in her dissertation.
5. The treaty quotes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in its preamble.
6. The witness was quoted out of context by the opposing counsel.
7. The author quotes Aristotle to establish the philosophical foundation of his argument.
8. The insurance adjuster provided a written quote for the storm damage.
9. The journalist verified the quote with two independent sources before publishing.
10. The lecture quotes from a rare manuscript housed in the British Library.

1. Dude, I'm not quoting you, but someone told me you got fired.
2. Bro, that quote from the coach was epic. I'm putting it on my wall.
3. She literally quotes TikTok videos in every conversation.
4. I got a quote from the mechanic and almost had a heart attack.
5. My phone case has a quote from my favorite song on it.
6. Don't quote me, but I think the party got shut down by the cops.
7. He's always quoting his dad like some kind of wise sage.
8. That quote is so overused, find a new one.
9. I quoted you in my group chat and they all cracked up.
10. The Uber driver quoted me $40 for a ride to the airport.

1. The novel quotes Whitman to capture the spirit of the American frontier.
2. He quoted the prophecy from memory, each word heavy with dread.
3. The detective quoted the suspect's exact words back to him, watching for a flinch.
4. The inscription quoted a line from Keats: 'A thing of beauty is a joy forever.'
5. She kept a journal of quotes that moved her, a private collection of borrowed wisdom.
6. The professor quoted the ancient text, his voice echoing in the cavernous hall.
7. The letter quoted a passage from their grandmother's will, changing everything.
8. To quote Hamlet, he mused, 'There are more things in heaven and earth.'
9. The courtroom fell silent as the lawyer quoted the defendant's own words against him.
10. The diary quoted a soldier's letter home, the words faded but still legible.

Root Word

quot (Latin)

Derived Forms

By adding suffixes, we get: quotation (noun), quotable (adjective), quoter (noun), unquotable (adjective).

Related Forms

Quote, Quotes, Quoted, Quoting, Quotation, Quotable, Quoter, Quota, Quotient, Quantity

Prefix & Root Information

The prefix 'un-' can be added to the adjective form to create 'unquotable', meaning not suitable or not permitted to be quoted, often due to offensive or off-the-record language.

Rule 1: Noun vs. Verb

'Quote' can be a noun ('that's a great quote') or a verb ('she quoted the author'). Context determines its function.

Rule 2: Transitive Verb

As a verb, 'quote' is transitive and takes a direct object. Example: 'He quoted the Bible.' Not 'He quoted.'

Rule 3: 'Quote' + Direct Speech

When introducing direct speech, 'quote' can be followed by a comma and the exact words. Example: 'She quoted, "To be or not to be."'

Rule 4: 'Quoted As'

When referring to what someone was reported as saying, use 'quoted as'. Example: 'He was quoted as saying the deal was done.'

Rule 5: 'Quote' vs. 'Quotation'

Both can refer to a cited passage. 'Quote' is informal and more common in speech. 'Quotation' is formal and preferred in academic writing.

Correct Spelling

The correct spelling is quote.

Common Misspellings

qoute (transposing 'o' and 'u'), kwote (phonetic), cote (wrong consonants), quete (wrong vowels), qote (missing 'u')

Common Typing Mistakes

quore (hitting 'r' instead of 't'), quyte (hitting 'y' instead of 'o'), auote (hitting 'a' instead of 'q'), qu0te (hitting '0' instead of 'o'), quots (hitting 's' instead of 'e')

• The 'qu' in 'quote' makes a 'kw' sound, like in 'queen' or 'quest'.
• The 'o' makes a long 'o' sound, like in 'go' or 'boat'.
• It rhymes perfectly with 'note', 'boat', and 'coat'—but include the 'w' sound.
• Do not use a short 'o' sound (kwaht is incorrect).
• Keep it to exactly one syllable.
• Ensure the final 't' is pronounced sharply and not swallowed.
• Do not confuse the pronunciation with 'coat' (which has no 'w' sound).
• Practice saying 'direct quote' to get the natural rhythm.