How to Pronounce Initiative

To pronounce "initiative", say IN-it-iat-iv-e — 5 syllables, IPA /ˌɪˈnɪʃətɪv/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

initiative

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Accent

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Speed

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5

Syllables

10

Letters

/ˌɪˈnɪʃətɪv/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/ɪnˈɪʃiətˌɪv/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “initiative”

"initiative" has 5 syllables: in-it-iat-iv-e.

What does initiative mean?

noun

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

adjective

  1. Serving to initiate; inceptive; initiatory; introductory; preliminary.
  2. In which voter initiatives can be brought to the ballot.

Synonyms

direct initiative

Antonyms

noninitiative

Hear “initiative” in real sentences

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

Related words

initiatoryinauguralgo-aheadfirstenterpriseopeningenterprisingnessmaiden

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "initiative"?▾

"Initiative" has 5 syllables: in · it · iat · iv · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "initiative"?▾

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

What does "initiative" mean?▾

Initiative: A beginning; a first move.

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