How to pronounce captivity
Say it like kap-TIV-uh-tee. Captivity has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TIV).
- kap
- TIV
- uh
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Captivity pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kapKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- TIVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of captivity
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: kap-TIV-ih-tee.
What does captivity mean?
- The state of being captive.“held in captivity”
- The state or period of being imprisoned, confined, or enslaved.“long captivity”
Where does captivity come from?
From Middle English captivite, from Latin captīvitās.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- imprisonment
- incarceration
- immurement
- enslavement
Words that rhyme with captivity
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of captivity.
- activity
- productivity
- creativity
- negativity
- relativity
- nativity
- conductivity
- exclusivity
- reactivity
- selectivity
Questions about saying captivity
How do you pronounce captivity?
Say kap-TIV-uh-tee. The American pronunciation is /kæpˈtɪvəti/. In British English it is /kæpˈtɪvɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in captivity?
Captivity has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TIV). Broken into parts: kap · TIV · uh · tee.
Is captivity pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /kæpˈtɪvɪti/ (kap-TIV-ih-tee).