How to pronounce determinative
Say it like dih-TUR-mih-nuh-tiv. Determinative has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce determinative. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- TUR
- mih
- nuh
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Determinative 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.
- TURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- mihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- tivGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of determinative
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: dih-TUR-mih-nuh-tiv.
What does determinative mean?
- An ideogram used to mark semantic categories of words in logographic scripts.
- A member of a class of words functioning in a noun phrase to identify or distinguish a referent without describing or modifying it.
- That determines something.
- Sufficient to decide something (such as a question of fact or of law).“When assigning custody, the preference of the child will be considered, but it is not determinative.”
Where does determinative come from?
From Middle French déterminatif.
Questions about saying determinative
How do you pronounce determinative?
Say dih-TUR-mih-nuh-tiv. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈtɝmɪnəˌtɪv/. In British English it is /dɪˈtɜːmɪnəˌtɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in determinative?
Determinative has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TUR). Broken into parts: dih · TUR · mih · nuh · tiv.
Is determinative pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /dɪˈtɜːmɪnəˌtɪv/ (dih-TUR-mih-nuh-tiv).