How to pronounce receptive
Say it like rih-SEP-tiv. Receptive 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 receptive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- SEP
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Receptive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- rihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- 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 receptive
American and British speakers say receptive in essentially the same way: /rɪˈsɛptɪv/ in the US and /rɪˈsɛptɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-SEP-tiv.
What does receptive mean?
- Capable of receiving something.
- Ready to receive something, especially new concepts or ideas.“receptive to the idea”
- Ready for reproduction; fertile.
Where does receptive come from?
From Late Middle English receptive, receptyue (“capable of receiving something; acting as a receptacle”), borrowed from Medieval Latin receptivus (“capable of receiving something”), from Latin receptus (“retaken, having been retaken; receiv
Words that rhyme with receptive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of receptive.
Questions about saying receptive
How do you pronounce receptive?
Say rih-SEP-tiv. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈsɛptɪv/. In British English it is /rɪˈsɛptɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in receptive?
Receptive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEP). Broken into parts: rih · SEP · tiv.
Do Americans and Brits say receptive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪˈsɛptɪv/ and the British form is /rɪˈsɛptɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.