How to pronounce selective
Say it like suh-LEK-tiv. Selective has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce selective. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- suh
- LEK
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Selective pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LEKSay 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 selective
American and British speakers say selective in essentially the same way: /səˈlɛktɪv/ in the US and /sɪˈlɛktɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: sih-LEK-tiv.
What does selective mean?
- tending to select; characterized by careful choice“an exceptionally quick and selective reader”
- characterized by very careful or fastidious selection“the school was very selective in its admissions”
Words that rhyme with selective
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of selective.
- perspective
- objective
- collective
- detective
- respective
- protective
- prospective
- subjective
- directive
- ineffective
Questions about saying selective
How do you pronounce selective?
Say suh-LEK-tiv. The American pronunciation is /səˈlɛktɪv/. In British English it is /sɪˈlɛktɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in selective?
Selective has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEK). Broken into parts: suh · LEK · tiv.
Do Americans and Brits say selective the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /səˈlɛktɪv/ and the British form is /sɪˈlɛktɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.