How to pronounce perceptive
Say it like per-SEP-tiv. Perceptive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce perceptive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- per
- SEP
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Perceptive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- perKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- SEPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of perceptive
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: puh-SEP-tiv.
What does perceptive mean?
- Having or showing keenness or sharpness of perception, insight, understanding, or intuition.“He is so perceptive when it comes to other people's feelings.”
- A supposed organ of the brain, dealing with concrete observations of reality.
Where does perceptive come from?
From Latin perceptīvus.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with perceptive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of perceptive.
Questions about saying perceptive
How do you pronounce perceptive?
Say per-SEP-tiv. The American pronunciation is /pɚˈsɛptɪv/. In British English it is /pəˈsɛptɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in perceptive?
Perceptive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEP). Broken into parts: per · SEP · tiv.
Is perceptive pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /pəˈsɛptɪv/ (puh-SEP-tiv).