To pronounce "subversive", say SUBV-ers-iv-e — 4 syllables, IPA /səbˈvɜɹsɪv/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.
subversive
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
Record yourself saying subversive, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.
4
Syllables
10
Letters
/səbˈvɜɹsɪv/
IPA
"subversive" has 4 syllables: subv-ers-iv-e. It rhymes with coercive and discursive, if that helps it stick.
noun
adjective
Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.
Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.
"Subversive" has 4 syllables: subv · ers · iv · e.
The IPA transcription of "subversive" is /səbˈvɜɹsɪv/.
Subversive: A radical supporter of political or social revolution.
Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?
Open “subversive” in the full dictionary →