How to pronounce survival
Say it like ser-VY-vul. Survival has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce survival. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ser
- VY
- vul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Survival pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- serKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- VYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- vulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of survival
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: suh-VY-vul.
What does survival mean?
- a state of surviving; remaining alive
- a natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment
- something that survives
Where does survival come from?
From survive + -al.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with survival
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of survival.
Questions about saying survival
How do you pronounce survival?
Say ser-VY-vul. The American pronunciation is /sɚˈvaɪvəl/. In British English it is /səˈvaɪvəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in survival?
Survival has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VY). Broken into parts: ser · VY · vul.
Is survival pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /səˈvaɪvəl/ (suh-VY-vul).