How to Pronounce Initiative

"Initiative" is not spelled the way it sounds. Its pronunciation is /ˌɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ in IPA and it has 4 syllables. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents — the audio is the reliable guide for a word like this.

initiative

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4

Syllables

10

Letters

/ˌɪˈnɪʃətɪv/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/ɪnˈɪʃiətˌɪv/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “initiative”

"initiative" has 4 syllables: initiative.

What does initiative mean?

adjective

  1. Serving to initiate.
  2. In which voter initiatives can be brought to the ballot.

noun

  1. A beginning; a first move.
  2. A new development; a fresh approach to something; a new way of dealing with a problem.

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Sounds worth drilling for a word spelled like this:

/aɪ/ — long i/v/ — v/ə/ — schwa

Read next: Long and Short Vowel Sounds in English

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "initiative"?▾

"Initiative" is not spelled the way it sounds. Its pronunciation is /ˌɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ in IPA and it has 4 syllables. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents — the audio is the reliable guide for a word like this.

How many syllables are in "initiative"?▾

"Initiative" has 4 syllables.

What is the IPA transcription of "initiative"?▾

The IPA transcription of "initiative" is /ˌɪˈnɪʃətɪv/.

What does "initiative" mean?▾

Initiative: Serving to initiate.

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