How to pronounce cooperative
Say it like koh-AH-puh-ray-tiv. Cooperative has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (AH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cooperative. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- koh
- AH
- puh
- ray
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cooperative 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.
- AHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- rayGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- tivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of cooperative
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: koh-OP-uh-ruh-tiv.
What does cooperative mean?
- a jointly owned commercial enterprise (usually organized by farmers or consumers) that produces and distributes goods and services and is run for the benefit of its owners
- an association formed and operated for the benefit of those using it
- involving the joint activity of two or more“concerted action”“the conjunct influence of fire and strong wind”
- done with or working with others for a common purpose or benefit“a cooperative effort”
- willing to adjust to differences in order to obtain agreement
Where does cooperative come from?
From co- + operative.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying cooperative
How do you pronounce cooperative?
Say koh-AH-puh-ray-tiv. The American pronunciation is /koʊˈɑpəˌreɪtɪv/. In British English it is /kəʊˈɒpərətɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cooperative?
Cooperative has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (AH). Broken into parts: koh · AH · puh · ray · tiv.
Is cooperative pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /kəʊˈɒpərətɪv/ (koh-OP-uh-ruh-tiv).