How to pronounce ergative
Say it like UR-guh-tiv. Ergative has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ergative. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- UR
- guh
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ergative pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- URSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- guhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- tivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of ergative
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: UR-guh-tiv.
What does ergative mean?
- With the subject of a transitive construction having grammatical cases or thematic relations different from those of an intransitive construction.“The case systems of ergative languages are counter-intuitive to speakers of many Indo-European languages.”
- An ergative verb or other expression.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying ergative
How do you pronounce ergative?
Say UR-guh-tiv. The American pronunciation is /ˈɝɡətɪv/. In British English it is /ˈɜːɡətɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ergative?
Ergative has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UR). Broken into parts: UR · guh · tiv.
Is ergative 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 /ˈɜːɡətɪv/ (UR-guh-tiv).