To pronounce "decisive", say DEC-is-iv-e — 4 syllables, IPA /dɪˈsaɪsɪv/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.
decisive
Tap to hear · American accent
Accent
If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.
Speed
Syllable by syllable — tap each one
Record yourself saying decisive, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.
4
Syllables
8
Letters
/dɪˈsaɪsɪv/
IPA
"decisive" has 4 syllables: dec-is-iv-e. It rhymes with derisive and incisive, if that helps it stick.
adjective
“A decisive battle is fatal for one side's war chances”
“A noble instance of this attribute of the decisive character. -J. Foster.”
Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.
Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.
"Decisive" has 4 syllables: dec · is · iv · e.
The IPA transcription of "decisive" is /dɪˈsaɪsɪv/.
Decisive: Having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy; putting an end to contest or controversy; final; conclusive.
Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?
Open “decisive” in the full dictionary →