How to pronounce exhaustive
Say it like ig-ZAW-stiv. Exhaustive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZAW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce exhaustive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ig
- ZAW
- stiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Exhaustive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- igKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ZAWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- stivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of exhaustive
American and British speakers say exhaustive in essentially the same way: /ɪɡˈzɔstɪv/ in the US and /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: ig-ZAW-stiv.
What does exhaustive mean?
- Including every possible element: fully comprehensive.“We made an exhaustive list.”
Where does exhaustive come from?
Borrowed from Medieval Latin exhaustīvus.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying exhaustive
How do you pronounce exhaustive?
Say ig-ZAW-stiv. The American pronunciation is /ɪɡˈzɔstɪv/. In British English it is /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in exhaustive?
Exhaustive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZAW). Broken into parts: ig · ZAW · stiv.
Do Americans and Brits say exhaustive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪɡˈzɔstɪv/ and the British form is /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.