5 syllables: Com, pet, i, tive, ness. Stress on pet.
kuhm-PET-it-iv-nis
/kəˈmpɛtɪtɪvnɪs/
Competitiveness is pronounced kuhm-PET-it-iv-nis (/kəˈmpɛtɪtɪvnɪs/). It has five syllables (Com-pet-i-tive-ness), with the stress on "pet". Competitiveness is the quality or condition of being driven to outperform others, often in a way that seeks advantage or superiority. In economic, business, or athletic contexts, it describes how markets, teams, or individuals strive to gain an edge. It implies a combination of motivation, strategic thinking, and capacity to compare and respond to rivals.
nounCompetitiveness is the quality or condition of being driven to outperform others, often in a way that seeks advantage or superiority. In economic, business, or athletic contexts, it describes how markets, teams, or individuals strive to gain an edge. It implies a combination of motivation, strategic thinking, and capacity to compare and respond to rivals.
"Her competitiveness pushed the team to train harder and focus on efficiency."
"The company's competitiveness hinges on innovation and cost control."
"In a debate, his competitiveness sometimes edged into aggressive tactics."
Pronounce as /kəm-pə-ˈtɪv-nəs/ in US/UK approximate; stress falls on the third syllable: com-puh-TIV-nuhs. Break it into syllables: com/pe/tit/i/veness with the primary stress on -tiv-; ensure the /ˈtɪv/ is compact, not a prolonged vowel. You can listen to native speakers by searching ‘competitiveness pronunciation’ on Pronounce or Forvo for audio reference. Mouth position: start with a neutral schwa, then a light /p/ in the second syllable, and finish with a crisp /nəs/.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (placing primary stress on com- or ce-), over-enunciating the -ti- sequence turning it into ti-tion-like pronunciation, and mispronouncing the final -ness as -nessy or dropping the final /s/ sound. Correct by: 1) placing primary stress on -tiv- (com-pə-ˈtɪv-nəs), 2) keeping -ti- short and the following /v/ crisp, 3) ending with /nəs/. Practicing slow, then at a natural pace helps solidify the rhythm.
US/UK/AU share /kəm-pə-ˈtɪv-nəs/ base, but vowel purity and rhoticity differ. US tends to rhotic with a clearer /ɚ/ in unstressed syllables; UK often has non-rhotic tendencies and crisper /ɪ/ in -tiv-; Australian shows vowel flattening, with slightly broader /æ/ or /ɪ/ in some speakers and less pronounced /ə/ in unstressed syllables. Listen for the /ə/ in the first syllable and the vowels in -tiv-; practice with region-specific audio references.
Two key challenges: the multisyllabic structure and the /tɪv/ cluster. The sequence com-pə-ˈtɪv- requires a quick shift from a neutral vowel to a closed syllable with a voiced consonant cluster /t/ + /v/. Also, final -ness blends quickly into a voiced /n/ and voiceless /s/; beginners may insert extra vowels or slow down the -tiv- portion. Focus on a tight vowel in -tiv- and a clean, crisp -nəs ending.
Note the -tiv- cluster is often followed by a light, almost inaudible -e- before -ness in fast speech. In careful speech, you might hear com-pə-ˈtɪv-nəs; in rapid speech, it tends toward com-pə-ˈtɪv-nəs with a very short vowel in the -i- and a crisp final -s. Maintaining the primary stress on -tiv- helps prevent natural clumping of syllables.
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US: rhotic, softer /ə/ in first syllable, /ˈtɪv/ is clear; UK: non-rhotic tendency, final /r/ absent, crisper vowel in -tiv-; AU: broader vowel qualities, /ə/ may be diacritic to /æ/ in stressed syllable, more relaxed mouth posture. Use IPA references /kəmpəˈtɪvnəs/ with attention to /ə/ vs /ɪ/ in -tiv-. - Vowel shifts: US /ə/ often realized as schwa; UK /ə/ may be slightly more centralized; AU may merge certain vowels, affecting the first unstressed syllable. - Consonants: /t/ between /p/ and /ɪ/ should stay light; avoid over-voicing the /t/; /v/ should be a voiced labiodental fricative, not a /w/ or /f/.
Competitiveness derives from the root word compete, which comes from the Latin competere (com- ‘together’ + petere ‘to seek, strive for’). The noun form competitiveness appears in English in the late 19th to early 20th century as economies and organizations began to emphasize rivalry in markets. The suffix -ness marks a state or quality, yielding ‘the quality of competing or contending with others.’ Over time, the term broadened from direct contest to encompass broader strategic positioning, efficiency, and performance metrics that influence a region, firm, or individual’s capacity to succeed in comparable environments. In contemporary usage, competitiveness often involves both intrinsic motivation and external conditions, including policy, technology, and globalization, all contributing to the extent to which an actor can outperform peers.
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Words that rhyme with "Competitiveness"
-ess sounds
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