How to pronounce unproductive
Say it like uhn-pruh-DUHK-tiv. Unproductive has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (DUHK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce unproductive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uhn
- pruh
- DUHK
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unproductive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhnGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- pruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- DUHKSay 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 unproductive
American and British speakers say unproductive in essentially the same way: /ˌʌnprəˈdʌktɪv/ in the US and /ˌʌnprəˈdʌktɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: uhn-pruh-DUHK-tiv.
What does unproductive mean?
- Not productive; useless; fruitless.“Juggling is an amusing pastime, but generally unproductive.”
- No longer used to produce new words (see examples).
Where does unproductive come from?
From un- + productive.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with unproductive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of unproductive.
- destructive
- reproductive
- constructive
- seductive
- conductive
- instructive
- obstructive
- inductive
- reconstructive
- reductive
Questions about saying unproductive
How do you pronounce unproductive?
Say uhn-pruh-DUHK-tiv. The American pronunciation is /ˌʌnprəˈdʌktɪv/. In British English it is /ˌʌnprəˈdʌktɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unproductive?
Unproductive has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (DUHK). Broken into parts: uhn · pruh · DUHK · tiv.
Do Americans and Brits say unproductive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌʌnprəˈdʌktɪv/ and the British form is /ˌʌnprəˈdʌktɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.