How to pronounce disruptive
Say it like dis-RUHP-tiv. Disruptive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RUHP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce disruptive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dis
- RUHP
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Disruptive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- disKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- RUHPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- tivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of disruptive
American and British speakers say disruptive in essentially the same way: /dɪsˈrʌptɪv/ in the US and /dɪsˈrʌptɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: dis-RUHP-tiv.
What does disruptive mean?
- Causing disruption or unrest.“Children who exhibit disruptive behavior may be expelled from school.”
- Causing major change, as in a market.“disruptive technologies”
Where does disruptive come from?
From disrupt + -ive. In the business sense popularized by Clayton Christensen and Joseph Bower, see 1995 citation.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with disruptive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of disruptive.
Questions about saying disruptive
How do you pronounce disruptive?
Say dis-RUHP-tiv. The American pronunciation is /dɪsˈrʌptɪv/. In British English it is /dɪsˈrʌptɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in disruptive?
Disruptive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RUHP). Broken into parts: dis · RUHP · tiv.
Do Americans and Brits say disruptive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪsˈrʌptɪv/ and the British form is /dɪsˈrʌptɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.