How to pronounce derive
Say it like duh-RYVE. Derive has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RYVE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce derive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- duh
- RYVE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Derive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- duhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RYVESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of derive
American and British speakers say derive in essentially the same way: /dəˈraɪv/ in the US and /dəˈraɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: duh-RYVE.
What does derive mean?
- reason by deduction; establish by deduction
- obtain“derive pleasure from one's garden”
- come from“The present name derives from an older form”
Where does derive come from?
From Middle English deriven, from Old French deriver, from Latin dērīvō (“to lead, turn, or draw off (a liquid), draw off, derive”), from dē (“away”) + rīvus (“a stream”); see rival.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with derive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of derive.
Questions about saying derive
How do you pronounce derive?
Say duh-RYVE. The American pronunciation is /dəˈraɪv/. In British English it is /dəˈraɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in derive?
Derive has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RYVE). Broken into parts: duh · RYVE.
Do Americans and Brits say derive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dəˈraɪv/ and the British form is /dəˈraɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.