3 syllables: Ad, ject, ive. Stress on Ad.
AJ-ik-tiv
/ˈædʒɪktɪv/
Adjective is pronounced AJ-ik-tiv (/ˈædʒɪktɪv/). It has three syllables (Ad-ject-ive), with the stress on "Ad". Adjective (noun): a word or phrase naming a quality, attribute, or characteristic of a noun, used to describe or modify it. In grammar, adjectives can express color, size, shape, or other properties and often serve to provide detail or evaluation. They contrast with nouns and verbs by function, and may appear before the noun or after certain verbs or linking words.
nounAdjective (noun): a word or phrase naming a quality, attribute, or characteristic of a noun, used to describe or modify it. In grammar, adjectives can express color, size, shape, or other properties and often serve to provide detail or evaluation. They contrast with nouns and verbs by function, and may appear before the noun or after certain verbs or linking words.
How to Pronounce Adjective
"The adjective form of the word describes a noun more vividly."
"She used several adjectives to convey the mood of the scene."
"In the sentence, 'red balloon,' red is the adjective modifying balloon."
Adjective is pronounced /ˈædʒɪktɪv/ in US and UK English. The primary stress falls on the first syllable: A-djective. The middle syllable is /ɪ/, and the ending is /tɪv/. Pay attention to the digraph -dj- producing the /dʒ/ sound as in judge. A smooth sequence is /ˈædʒ.ɪk.tɪv/, with a light, brief /ɪ/ in the second syllable and a clear final /v/ in some accents.
Common errors include turning the initial /æ/ into a more open or closed vowel, or misplacing the /dʒ/ as /d/?/ or /ʒ/. Another frequent mistake is collapsing syllables, saying /ˈædʒɪktɪv/ with weak emphasis on the first beat or omitting the final /v/. Corrective tips: keep the /ˈædʒ/ cluster tight, ensure the /dʒ/ is a single palatal-voiced affricate, and end with a crisp /v/ rather than a voiced /b/ or /f/ approximation.
In US/UK, stress remains on the first syllable, but vowel qualities differ slightly: /ˈæ.dʒɪk.tɪv/ US tends to a slightly more tense /æ/ and a clearer /v/ end; UK may have a marginally shorter /ɪ/ and crisper consonants. Australian speakers often have a flatter vowel in /æ/ with a broader intonation; some speakers may reduce the middle syllable slightly more. Overall, consonant clarity of /dʒ/ and final /v/ remains consistent across three accents.
The difficulty centers on the multi-phoneme sequence /æ.dʒ/ (with a palatal affricate), the middle /ɪ/ which is short and quick, and the final /v/. Keeping the syllables distinct without creating a vowel-consonant blend requires precise tongue positioning: the tongue blade rises to form /dʒ/, teeth lightly touch, and the lower lip interacts with the upper teeth to produce /v/. Many speakers run the sounds together or soften /ð/ or /ɡ/ accidentally.
The word contains a conspicuous -ject- root as /dʒ/ and a short i in the middle, which can tempt vowel reduction in fast speech. The challenge is maintaining syllable integrity under speed: /ˈædʒ.ɪk.tɪv/ with even tempo and not turning into /ˈædʒ.kə.tɪv/ or /ˈædʒtɪv/.
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Adjective comes from Latin adiectivus, meaning 'added' or 'added to' from ad- 'toward' + iacere 'to throw, cast.' The root idea in Latin was a word that is added to a noun to describe it. In English, adjective appeared in the 14th century through Old French adjectif, from Latin adjectivus. The term was originally a technical grammatical label, distinguishing words that “are added” to nouns as descriptive modifiers rather than as standalone nouns or verbs. Over time,
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Adjective" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Adjective" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Adjective"
-ive sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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