How to pronounce discursive
Say it like dih-SKUR-siv. Discursive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SKUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce discursive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- SKUR
- siv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Discursive 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.
- SKURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- sivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of discursive
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: dih-SKUR-siv.
What does discursive mean?
- Tending to digress from the main point.
- Using reason and argument rather than intuition.
Where does discursive come from?
Borrowed from Middle French discursif, formed from the stem of Latin discursus and the suffix -if, and in part borrowed from Medieval Latin discursivus.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with discursive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of discursive.
Questions about saying discursive
How do you pronounce discursive?
Say dih-SKUR-siv. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈskɝsɪv/. In British English it is /dɪˈskɜːsɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in discursive?
Discursive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SKUR). Broken into parts: dih · SKUR · siv.
Is discursive 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 /dɪˈskɜːsɪv/ (dih-SKUR-siv).