How to pronounce reflective
Say it like rih-FLEK-tiv. Reflective has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FLEK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce reflective. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- FLEK
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Reflective 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.
- FLEKSay 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 reflective
American and British speakers say reflective in essentially the same way: /rɪˈflɛktɪv/ in the US and /rɪˈflɛktɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-FLEK-tiv.
What does reflective mean?
- deeply or seriously thoughtful“Byron lives on not only in his poetry, but also in his creation of the `Byronic hero' - the persona of a brooding melancholy young man”
- capable of physically reflecting light or sound“a reflective surface”
- devoted to matters of the mind“the reflective type”
Where does reflective come from?
From reflect + -ive.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with reflective
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of reflective.
Questions about saying reflective
How do you pronounce reflective?
Say rih-FLEK-tiv. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈflɛktɪv/. In British English it is /rɪˈflɛktɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in reflective?
Reflective has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FLEK). Broken into parts: rih · FLEK · tiv.
Do Americans and Brits say reflective the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪˈflɛktɪv/ and the British form is /rɪˈflɛktɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.