How to pronounce captive
Say it like KAP-tiv. Captive has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce captive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAP
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Captive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KAPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- tivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of captive
American and British speakers say captive in essentially the same way: /ˈkæptɪv/ in the US and /ˈkæptɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAP-tiv.
What does captive mean?
- a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
- an animal that is confined
- a person held in the grip of a strong emotion or passion
- being in captivity
- giving or marked by complete attention to“that engrossed look or rapt delight”“enwrapped in dreams”
Where does captive come from?
Doublet of caitiff.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with captive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of captive.
Questions about saying captive
How do you pronounce captive?
Say KAP-tiv. The American pronunciation is /ˈkæptɪv/. In British English it is /ˈkæptɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in captive?
Captive has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAP). Broken into parts: KAP · tiv.
Do Americans and Brits say captive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkæptɪv/ and the British form is /ˈkæptɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.