How to pronounce olive
Say it like OL-uv. Olive has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OL).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce olive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/ˈɑləv/OL-uv
UK British/ˈɒlɪv/OL-iv
- OL
- uv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Olive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uvKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of olive
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: OL-iv.
What does olive mean?
adjective
- of a yellow-green color similar to that of an unripe olive
- small ovoid fruit of the European olive tree; important food and source of oil
- evergreen tree cultivated in the Mediterranean region since antiquity and now elsewhere; has edible shiny black fruits
- hard yellow often variegated wood of an olive tree; used in cabinetwork
Questions about saying olive
How do you pronounce olive?
Say OL-uv. The American pronunciation is /ˈɑləv/. In British English it is /ˈɒlɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in olive?
Olive has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OL). Broken into parts: OL · uv.
Is olive pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈɒlɪv/ (OL-iv).