How to pronounce intensive
Say it like in-TEN-siv. Intensive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce intensive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- TEN
- siv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Intensive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- inGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- TENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- sivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of intensive
American and British speakers say intensive in essentially the same way: /ˌɪnˈtɛnsɪv/ in the US and /ɪnˈtɛnsɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: in-TEN-siv.
What does intensive mean?
- characterized by a high degree or intensity; often used as a combining form“the questioning was intensive”“intensive care”
- tending to give force or emphasis“an intensive adverb”
- of agriculture; intended to increase productivity of a fixed area by expending more capital and labor“intensive agriculture”“intensive conditions”
- a modifier that has little meaning except to intensify the meaning it modifies“`up' in `finished up' is an intensifier”“`honestly' in `I honestly don't know' is an intensifier”
Where does intensive come from?
The noun is derived from the adjective.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with intensive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of intensive.
Questions about saying intensive
How do you pronounce intensive?
Say in-TEN-siv. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪnˈtɛnsɪv/. In British English it is /ɪnˈtɛnsɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in intensive?
Intensive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN). Broken into parts: in · TEN · siv.
Do Americans and Brits say intensive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪnˈtɛnsɪv/ and the British form is /ɪnˈtɛnsɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.