How to Pronounce Receive

"Receive" is not spelled the way it sounds. Its pronunciation is /ɹəˈsiv/ in IPA and it has 2 syllables. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents — the audio is the reliable guide for a word like this.

receive

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

Practice: Record & Compare

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

2

Syllables

7

Letters

/ɹəˈsiv/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/ɹɪsˈiːv/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “receive”

"receive" has 2 syllables: receive.

What does receive mean?

noun

  1. An operation in which data is received.

verb

  1. To take, as something that is offered, given, committed, sent, paid, etc.; to accept; to be given something.

    “She received many presents for her birthday.”

  2. To take goods knowing them to be stolen.

Keep practicing

Related pages on PronounceIt, chosen from what we know about this word.

Train the contrast: light vs right, berry vs very

Sounds worth drilling for a word spelled like this:

Read next: The English R: Why It’s Hard and How to Fix It

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "receive"?▾

"Receive" is not spelled the way it sounds. Its pronunciation is /ɹəˈsiv/ in IPA and it has 2 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 "receive"?▾

"Receive" has 2 syllables.

What is the IPA transcription of "receive"?▾

The IPA transcription of "receive" is /ɹəˈsiv/.

What does "receive" mean?▾

Receive: An operation in which data is received.

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

Open “receive” in the full dictionary →