How to pronounce cohesive
Say it like koh-HEE-siv. Cohesive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cohesive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- koh
- HEE
- siv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cohesive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- HEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- sivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of cohesive
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: koh-HEE-siv.
What does cohesive mean?
- Having cohesion.“a team welded into a cohesive unit”
- A substance that provides cohesion
- A device used to establish cohesion within a text
Where does cohesive come from?
From Latin cohaesus, past participle of cohaereō, + -ive.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with cohesive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cohesive.
Questions about saying cohesive
How do you pronounce cohesive?
Say koh-HEE-siv. The American pronunciation is /koʊˈhisɪv/. In British English it is /kəʊˈhiːsɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cohesive?
Cohesive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HEE). Broken into parts: koh · HEE · siv.
Is cohesive pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /kəʊˈhiːsɪv/ (koh-HEE-siv).