5 syllables: Com, mu, ni, ca, tive. Stress on mu.
kuh-MYOO-nuh-kuh-tiv
/kəˈmjunəkətɪv/
Communicative is pronounced kuh-MYOO-nuh-kuh-tiv (/kəˈmjunəkətɪv/). It has five syllables (Com-mu-ni-ca-tive), with the stress on "mu". Communicative is an adjective describing someone or something oriented toward communication or capable of conveying information effectively. It emphasizes openness, interactive exchange, and the facilitation of dialogue. In professional or academic contexts, it often highlights collaboration, clarity, and responsive behavior in interpersonal settings.
adjectiveCommunicative is an adjective describing someone or something oriented toward communication or capable of conveying information effectively. It emphasizes openness, interactive exchange, and the facilitation of dialogue. In professional or academic contexts, it often highlights collaboration, clarity, and responsive behavior in interpersonal settings.
- You may misplace stress on the first syllable (COM-municative). Correct by practicing US/UK dictionaries: /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.kə.tɪv/ with primary stress on mu. - The /mjuː/ sequence often gets flattened to /mʊ/ or /miː/; fix by producing a distinct /m/ with a tight lip closure, then quickly transition to /juː/ (yoo) glide. - Final -tɪv can become /tɪv/ or /tɪf/ due to flapping in American speech; emphasize a crisp, released /t/ followed by /ɪv/.
"Her role as a facilitator was highly communicative, encouraging input from all team members."
"The workshop emphasized communicative competence, focusing on listening and turn-taking."
"In a bilingual classroom, teachers promote communicative activities to build speaking confidence."
Pronunciation: /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.kə.tɪv/ (US/UK/AU share this). Primary stress on the second syllable: mu. Start with a schwa /kə/, then /ˈmjuː/ as in 'mew' with a 'yu' glide, followed by /nɪ/ (short i), then /kə/ (schwa + k), and end with /tɪv/. In connected speech, you may hear /kə-ˈmjuː.nɪ.kə.tɪv/ with a light, quick -tɪv. Mouth positions: first vowel relaxed, lips neutral; after /mjuː/ lead with a front tongue toward the hard palate; final -tɪv involves a crisp /t/ and a light /ɪv/.
Common errors: (1) Stress on the first syllable as in 'COM-municative'—incorrect; (2) Dropping the /j/ in /mjuː/ so it sounds like /ˈkɪn/. Correction: maintain the /j/ glide quickly: /ˈmjuː/; (3) Mispronouncing the final /tɪv/ as /tiv/ or /tɪf/— correct by ending with a light, released /v/ after a crisp /t/. Practice with minimal pair: /kjə-ˈmjuː.nɪ.kə.tɪv/ vs /kə-ˈmɪn/… Incorporate slow articulation then speed.
US/UK/AU differences are subtle; all share /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.kə.tɪv/. In some US regions, /juː/ may sound slightly closer to /uː/ with less fronting; UK speakers may preserve a clearer /juː/ and a slightly more clipped /tɪv/. Australian pronunciation typically keeps the /juː/ glide and maintains non-rhoticity broadly; the rhotics are softly pronounced in connected speech. IPA remains /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.kə.tɪv/ across accents, with small diphthong refinements and syllabic rhythm differences.
Two main challenges: the /mjuː/ cluster involves a bilabial nasal followed immediately by a high front vowel with a glide, which can trip non-native speakers. The unstressed syllables /nɪ.kə/ require quick reduction without losing clarity; and the final /tɪv/ demands a crisp /t/ resistant to voicing during fluent speech. Practice the sequence slowly, ensure the /j/ sound after /m/ is strong but not overwhelmed by surrounding consonants, then blend into natural rhythm.
A unique aspect is maintaining the multi-syllabic flow with a clear second-stressed nucleus (mu) and evenly spaced intervals between /nɪ/ and /kə/ before the final /tɪv/. It’s important to keep the /j/ as an integrated glide rather than treating /juː/ as a separate vowel. Additionally, ensuring the /t/ is released and not over-voiced in rapid speech helps preserve intelligibility.
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- US: emphasize rhoticity not critical here since word begins with schwa; keep /juː/ as a bright diphthong; IPA: /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.kə.tɪv/. - UK: maintain clear /juː/ and slightly crisper consonants; still /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.kə.tɪv/. - AU: similar to US with less vowel reduction in connected speech; keep the /t/ crisp; IPA remains the same. - Vowel specifics: /ə/ schwa in first and third syllables; /ˈmjuː/ as a long diphthong; /ɪ/ as a short i; /kə/ as a schwa; final /tɪv/ with a light /v/.
Communicative derives from the verb communicate, which comes from the Latin communicare ‘to share, to divide out, to partake’ from com- ‘together’ and -municare ‘to share by preparation’ (from munus ‘handing, duty’). The term entered English via Old French?Communiquer, with senses centered on imparting information and exchanging ideas. In the 18th–19th centuries, English uses evolved from “communication” to abstract adjectives describing capability or inclination toward communication (communicable, communicative). The first known uses align with general discourses on social interaction, pedagogy, and diplomacy, where being able to convey information clearly was critical. Over time, the word accrued nuance: not just the act of transmitting, but the quality of the exchange, responsiveness, and adaptiveness in dialogic contexts. In modern professional settings (education, business, psychology), communicative competence signifies both linguistic proficiency and pragmatic ability to manage conversations, negotiate meaning, and facilitate collaborative problem-solving. The term has maintained robust relevance as global, multilingual communication becomes central to work and community life.
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Words that rhyme with "Communicative"
-ive sounds
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