How to pronounce distinctive
Say it like dih-STINGK-tiv. Distinctive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STINGK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce distinctive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- STINGK
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Distinctive 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.
- STINGKSay 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 distinctive
American and British speakers say distinctive in essentially the same way: /dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/ in the US and /dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-STINGK-tiv.
What does distinctive mean?
- of a feature that helps to distinguish a person or thing“Jerusalem has a distinctive Middle East flavor”“that is typical of you!”
- capable of being classified
Where does distinctive come from?
From Latin distinctus, perfect passive participle of distinguere (to push apart, to divide; see distinct) + -ive (forming adjectives signifying relation or tendency to).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with distinctive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of distinctive.
Questions about saying distinctive
How do you pronounce distinctive?
Say dih-STINGK-tiv. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/. In British English it is /dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in distinctive?
Distinctive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STINGK). Broken into parts: dih · STINGK · tiv.
Do Americans and Brits say distinctive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/ and the British form is /dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.