How to pronounce descriptive
Say it like dih-SKRIP-tiv. Descriptive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SKRIP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce descriptive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- SKRIP
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Descriptive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- SKRIPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- tivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of descriptive
American and British speakers say descriptive in essentially the same way: /dɪˈskrɪptɪv/ in the US and /dɪˈskrɪptɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-SKRIP-tiv.
What does descriptive mean?
- serving to describe or inform or characterized by description“the descriptive variable”“a descriptive passage”
- of or relating to an approach to linguistic analysis that aims at the description of a language's forms, structures and usage“descriptive grammar”
Where does descriptive come from?
From Latin dēscriptīvus (“containing a full description”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with descriptive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of descriptive.
Questions about saying descriptive
How do you pronounce descriptive?
Say dih-SKRIP-tiv. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈskrɪptɪv/. In British English it is /dɪˈskrɪptɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in descriptive?
Descriptive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SKRIP). Broken into parts: dih · SKRIP · tiv.
Do Americans and Brits say descriptive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈskrɪptɪv/ and the British form is /dɪˈskrɪptɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.