How to pronounce improve
Say it like im-PROOV. Improve has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PROOV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce improve. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- im
- PROOV
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Improve pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- imGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- PROOVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of improve
American and British speakers say improve in essentially the same way: /ˌɪmˈpruv/ in the US and /ɪmˈpruːv/ in the UK.
British respelling: im-PROOV.
What does improve mean?
- to make better“The editor improved the manuscript with his changes”
- get better“The weather improved toward evening”
Where does improve come from?
From Anglo-Norman emprouwer, from Old French en- + prou (“profit”), from Vulgar Latin prode (“advantageous, profitable”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with improve
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of improve.
Questions about saying improve
How do you pronounce improve?
Say im-PROOV. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪmˈpruv/. In British English it is /ɪmˈpruːv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in improve?
Improve has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PROOV). Broken into parts: im · PROOV.
Do Americans and Brits say improve the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪmˈpruv/ and the British form is /ɪmˈpruːv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.