How to Pronounce Furtive

To pronounce "furtive", say FURT-iv-e — 3 syllables, IPA /[ˈfɜːɾɪv]/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

furtive

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

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying furtive, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

3

Syllables

7

Letters

/[ˈfɜːɾɪv]/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “furtive”

"furtive" has 3 syllables: furt-iv-e. It rhymes with assertive, if that helps it stick.

What does furtive mean?

adjective

  1. Stealthy.
  2. Exhibiting guilty or evasive secrecy.

Synonyms

surreptitious

Hear “furtive” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with furtive

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

assertive

Related words

sneakystealthysurreptitiouscovertsneakskulkinglurkingbackstair

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "furtive"?▾

"Furtive" has 3 syllables: furt · iv · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "furtive"?▾

The IPA transcription of "furtive" is /[ˈfɜːɾɪv]/.

What does "furtive" mean?▾

Furtive: Stealthy.

Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?

Open “furtive” in the full dictionary →