How to pronounce prohibitive
Say it like proh-HIB-uh-tiv. Prohibitive has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HIB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce prohibitive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- proh
- HIB
- uh
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Prohibitive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- prohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- HIBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- tivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of prohibitive
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: proh-HIB-uh-tiv.
What does prohibitive mean?
- Tending to prohibit, preclude, or disallow.“Some countries are more prohibitive than others when it comes to hot topics like euthanasia and cloning.”
- Requiring an unreasonable or impractical effort.
- Costly to the extreme; beyond budget.“I'd like to visit Europe someday, but the cost is prohibitive right now.”
- A negative imperative.
Where does prohibitive come from?
From Middle English prohibitif, prohibityve, from Medieval Latin prohibitīvus, from prohibit-, past-participle stem of Latin prohibēre.
Questions about saying prohibitive
How do you pronounce prohibitive?
Say proh-HIB-uh-tiv. The American pronunciation is /proʊˈhɪbətɪv/. In British English it is /prəʊˈhɪbətɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in prohibitive?
Prohibitive has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HIB). Broken into parts: proh · HIB · uh · tiv.
Is prohibitive pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /prəʊˈhɪbətɪv/ (proh-HIB-uh-tiv).