How to pronounce intrusive
Say it like in-TROO-siv. Intrusive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TROO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce intrusive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- TROO
- siv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Intrusive 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.
- TROOSay 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 intrusive
American and British speakers say intrusive in essentially the same way: /ˌɪnˈtrusɪv/ in the US and /ˌɪnˈtruːsɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: in-TROO-siv.
What does intrusive mean?
- Tending to intrude; doing that which is not welcome; interrupting or disturbing; entering without permission or welcome.“Did it ever cross your mind that he might find all those questions you ask intrusive?”
- Of rocks: forced, while in a plastic or molten state, into the cavities or between the cracks or layers of other rocks.
- epenthetic
- An igneous rock that is forced, while molten, into cracks or between other layers of rock
Where does intrusive come from?
Back-formation from intrusion, + -ive.
Words that rhyme with intrusive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of intrusive.
Questions about saying intrusive
How do you pronounce intrusive?
Say in-TROO-siv. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪnˈtrusɪv/. In British English it is /ˌɪnˈtruːsɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in intrusive?
Intrusive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TROO). Broken into parts: in · TROO · siv.
Do Americans and Brits say intrusive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪnˈtrusɪv/ and the British form is /ˌɪnˈtruːsɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.