How to pronounce illusive
Say it like il-OO-siv. Illusive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (OO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce illusive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- il
- OO
- siv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Illusive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ilGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- OOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- sivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of illusive
American and British speakers say illusive in essentially the same way: /ˌɪˈlusɪv/ in the US and /ˌɪˈluːsɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: il-OO-siv.
What does illusive mean?
- Subject to or pertaining to an illusion, often used in the sense of an unrealistic expectation or an unreachable goal or outcome.“Testing software completely is an illusive goal.”
Where does illusive come from?
Borrowed from Medieval Latin illūsīvus.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with illusive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of illusive.
Words that sound like illusive
Questions about saying illusive
How do you pronounce illusive?
Say il-OO-siv. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪˈlusɪv/. In British English it is /ˌɪˈluːsɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in illusive?
Illusive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (OO). Broken into parts: il · OO · siv.
Do Americans and Brits say illusive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪˈlusɪv/ and the British form is /ˌɪˈluːsɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as illusive?
Illusive sounds the same as elusive in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.