Is it marinade or marinate?

We use both forms in British English – one is a verb (doing word) and the other a noun (thing).

Marinate

This is the verb ‘to marinate’ something.

Examples:

  • I marinate this steak.
  • This meat was marinated for 12 hours.

Marinade

This is the noun ‘a/the marinade’.

Examples:

  • I have used this recipe for marinade for years.
  • This marinade is rather strong.

One way of remembering this is that the word ‘noun’ comes before the word ‘verb’ in the alphabet; likewise ‘d’ comes before ‘t’, so the noun is ‘marinade’ and the verb is ‘marinate’.