How to pronounce plaintive
Say it like PLAYN-tiv. Plaintive has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PLAYN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce plaintive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PLAYN
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Plaintive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PLAYNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- tivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of plaintive
American and British speakers say plaintive in essentially the same way: /ˈpleɪntɪv/ in the US and /ˈpleɪntɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: PLAYN-tiv.
What does plaintive mean?
- Sounding sorrowful, mournful or melancholic.“a typically plaintive song from Radiohead”
Where does plaintive come from?
From Middle English pleintif, plentyff, from Old French pleintif (“aggrieved, lamenting”) (whence modern French plaintif), from plainte (“lament, complaint”); see plaint.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying plaintive
How do you pronounce plaintive?
Say PLAYN-tiv. The American pronunciation is /ˈpleɪntɪv/. In British English it is /ˈpleɪntɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in plaintive?
Plaintive has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PLAYN). Broken into parts: PLAYN · tiv.
Do Americans and Brits say plaintive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpleɪntɪv/ and the British form is /ˈpleɪntɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.