How to pronounce festive
Say it like FES-tiv. Festive has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce festive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FES
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Festive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of festive
American and British speakers say festive in essentially the same way: /ˈfɛstɪv/ in the US and /ˈfɛstɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: FES-tiv.
What does festive mean?
- offering fun and gaiety“a festive (or festal) occasion”“gay and exciting night life”
Where does festive come from?
From French festif, from Latin festivus (“pertaining to a feast, gay, lively, joyous”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with festive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of festive.
Questions about saying festive
How do you pronounce festive?
Say FES-tiv. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɛstɪv/. In British English it is /ˈfɛstɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in festive?
Festive has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FES). Broken into parts: FES · tiv.
Do Americans and Brits say festive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈfɛstɪv/ and the British form is /ˈfɛstɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.