How to pronounce alive
Say it like uh-LYVE. Alive has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LYVE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce alive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- LYVE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Alive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LYVESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of alive
American and British speakers say alive in essentially the same way: /əˈlaɪv/ in the US and /əˈlaɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-LYVE.
What does alive mean?
- possessing life“the happiest person alive”“the nerve is alive”
- (often followed by with) full of life and spirit“she was wonderfully alive for her age”“a face alive with mischief”
- having life or vigor or spirit“an animated and expressive face”“animated conversation”
Where does alive come from?
From Middle English alyve, alive, alife, olive, olife, on live, on life, from Old English on līfe (“alive”, literally “in life" or "in (the) body”), from on (“on, in”) + līfe, dative singular of līf (“life”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with alive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of alive.
Questions about saying alive
How do you pronounce alive?
Say uh-LYVE. The American pronunciation is /əˈlaɪv/. In British English it is /əˈlaɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in alive?
Alive has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LYVE). Broken into parts: uh · LYVE.
Do Americans and Brits say alive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈlaɪv/ and the British form is /əˈlaɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.