How to Pronounce Provocative

To pronounce "provocative", say PROV-oc-at-iv-e — 5 syllables, IPA /pɹəˈvɒk.ə.tɪv/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

provocative

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Accent

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5

Syllables

11

Letters

/pɹəˈvɒk.ə.tɪv/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “provocative”

"provocative" has 5 syllables: prov-oc-at-iv-e. It rhymes with evocative and vocative, if that helps it stick.

What does provocative mean?

noun

  1. (obsolescent) Something that provokes an appetite, especially a sexual appetite; an aphrodisiac.

adjective

  1. Serving or tending to elicit a strong, often negative sentiment in another person; exasperating.
  2. Serving or tending to excite, stimulate or arouse sexual interest; sexy.

Hear “provocative” 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 provocative

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

evocativevocativetalkative

Related words

provokingrabble-rousingchallengingagitativeinstigativeincitiverousingexciting

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "provocative"?▾

"Provocative" has 5 syllables: prov · oc · at · iv · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "provocative"?▾

The IPA transcription of "provocative" is /pɹəˈvɒk.ə.tɪv/.

What does "provocative" mean?▾

Provocative: (obsolescent) Something that provokes an appetite, especially a sexual appetite; an aphrodisiac.

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