How to pronounce subjunctive
Say it like sub-JUHNGK-tiv. Subjunctive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (JUHNGK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce subjunctive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- sub
- JUHNGK
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Subjunctive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- subKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- JUHNGKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- tivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of subjunctive
American and British speakers say subjunctive in essentially the same way: /səbˈdʒʌŋktɪv/ in the US and /səbˈdʒʌŋktɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: sub-JUHNGK-tiv.
What does subjunctive mean?
- Inflected to indicate that an act or state of being is possible, contingent or hypothetical, and not a fact.
- A form in the subjunctive mood.
Where does subjunctive come from?
From Latin subiunctīvus (“serving to join, connecting, in grammar applies to the subjunctive mode”), from subiungō (“to add, join, subjoin”), from sub- (“under”) + iungō (“to join, yoke”).
Questions about saying subjunctive
How do you pronounce subjunctive?
Say sub-JUHNGK-tiv. The American pronunciation is /səbˈdʒʌŋktɪv/. In British English it is /səbˈdʒʌŋktɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in subjunctive?
Subjunctive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (JUHNGK). Broken into parts: sub · JUHNGK · tiv.
Do Americans and Brits say subjunctive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /səbˈdʒʌŋktɪv/ and the British form is /səbˈdʒʌŋktɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.