How to Pronounce Drive

To pronounce "drive", say DRIV-e — 2 syllables, IPA /dɹaɪv/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

drive

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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Syllables

Letters

/dɹaɪv/

IPA

"drive" has 2 syllables: driv-e. It rhymes with contrive and strive, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: dr — easy to mix up when writing.

noun

Motivation to do or achieve something; ability coupled with ambition.
“Crassus had wealth and wit, but Pompey had drive and Caesar as much again.”
Violent or rapid motion; a rushing onward or away; especially, a forced or hurried dispatch of business.

verb

To provide an impetus for motion or other physical change, to move an object by means of the provision of force thereto.
“You drive nails into wood with a hammer.”
To provide an impetus for a non-physical change, especially a change in one's state of mind.
“My wife's constant harping about the condition of the house threatens to drive me to distraction.”

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.

How many syllables are in "drive"?▾

"Drive" has 2 syllables: driv · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "drive"?▾

The IPA transcription of "drive" is /dɹaɪv/.

What does "drive" mean?▾

Drive: Motivation to do or achieve something; ability coupled with ambition.

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