How to pronounce substantive
Say it like SUHB-stun-tiv. Substantive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce substantive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SUHB
- stun
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Substantive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SUHBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- stunKeep 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 substantive
American and British speakers say substantive in essentially the same way: /ˈsʌbstəntɪv/ in the US and /ˈsʌbstəntɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: SUHB-stun-tiv.
What does substantive mean?
- Of the essence or essential element of a thing.“substantive information”
- Constituting the substance of content rather than its style, and thus always nontrivial.“Substantive editing is never trivial, whereas some aspects of copyediting are trivial.”
- Having substance; enduring; solid; firm; substantial.
- Part of a text that carries the meaning, such as words and their ordering.
- To make a word belonging to another part of speech into a substantive (that is, a noun) or use it as a noun.
Where does substantive come from?
From Middle English substantif, from Old French substantif.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying substantive
How do you pronounce substantive?
Say SUHB-stun-tiv. The American pronunciation is /ˈsʌbstəntɪv/. In British English it is /ˈsʌbstəntɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in substantive?
Substantive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHB). Broken into parts: SUHB · stun · tiv.
Do Americans and Brits say substantive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsʌbstəntɪv/ and the British form is /ˈsʌbstəntɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.