How to pronounce permissive
Say it like per-MIS-iv. Permissive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MIS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce permissive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- per
- MIS
- iv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Permissive 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 relaxed "uh" in about.
- MISSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of permissive
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: puh-MIS-iv.
What does permissive mean?
- Giving permission, or predisposed to give it; lenient.
- Open to the public by permission of the landowner.
- That allows the replication of viruses.
- A grammatical form indicating that an action is permitted by the speaker.
Where does permissive come from?
From French permissif.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with permissive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of permissive.
Questions about saying permissive
How do you pronounce permissive?
Say per-MIS-iv. The American pronunciation is /pərˈmɪsɪv/. In British English it is /pəˈmɪsɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in permissive?
Permissive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MIS). Broken into parts: per · MIS · iv.
Is permissive 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 /pəˈmɪsɪv/ (puh-MIS-iv).