4 syllables: Cu, mu, la, tive. Stress on Cu.
KYOO-myuh-luh-tiv
/ˈkjumjələtɪv/
Cumulative is pronounced KYOO-myuh-luh-tiv (/ˈkjumjələtɪv/). It has four syllables (Cu-mu-la-tive), with the stress on "Cu". Cumulative describes something increasing or growing by a continual addition or build-up, typically reaching a total over time. It conveys piling effects or aggregate results rather than instantaneous values. In usage, it often modifies nouns like ‘cumulative effect’ or ‘cumulative total.’.
nounCumulative describes something increasing or growing by a continual addition or build-up, typically reaching a total over time. It conveys piling effects or aggregate results rather than instantaneous values. In usage, it often modifies nouns like ‘cumulative effect’ or ‘cumulative total.’
"The cumulative score after three rounds determined the winner."
"A cumulative effect of small savings can be substantial over years."
"The report showed a cumulative rise in temperatures throughout the decade."
Pronounce it as /ˈkjuː.mjə.lɪv/ in US and UK English, with primary stress on the first syllable: CUE-mee-lyv-like. The middle syllable is a light schwa /ə/; end with /lɪv/. In quick speech, it can be /ˈkjuː.mjə.lɪv/ with a reduced middle.”
People often misplace stress, saying /ˈkjuː.məl.jəv/ or insert extra syllables like /-eɪv/. Focus on keeping three clear syllables and stress on the first: /ˈkjuː.mjə.lɪv/. Ensure the second syllable is a quick /ə/ (not a full /mjə/ as two syllables), and end with a crisp /-lɪv/.
US/UK/AU share the same primary stress pattern on the first syllable: /ˈkjuː.mjə.lɪv/. The rhoticity doesn’t alter core vowels, but Australians may slightly flatten the final /ɪv/ toward /ɪf/ in rapid speech and might reduce the /j/ blend in the middle. The /juː/ in American variants can be realized as /uː/ or /juː/ depending on speaker.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster after the initial stressed syllable: the middle /mjə/ blends quickly into /lɪv/. Speakers often insert an extra vowel or misplace the /j/ or /m/. Focusing on a smooth transition from /ˈkjuː/ to /mjə/ to /lɪv/ prevents breaks and maintains the word’s natural rhythm.
The word features a consonant cluster /mj/ immediately after the primary stressed syllable and a schwa in the middle; this can lead to confusion about syllable boundaries and rhythm when spoken quickly. Its ending /lɪv/ can be shortened in casual speech, so mindful pronunciation maintains clarity in professional contexts.
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Cumulative comes from the Latin cumulativus, from cumulus meaning ‘a mound, heap’ and from the verb acongecumulare (to heap up, pile together). The root cum- denotes together, with the sense of adding items to form a greater whole. In English, cumulative appeared in the late 16th century borrowing sense related to accumulating amounts. Over time, the word broadened from physical piling to abstract accumulation, such as numbers, effects, or data that gradually build. The suffix -ive marks a tendency or capability, so cumulative describes the tendency to accumulate. The concept is common in mathematics, statistics, and science, where measurements or effects accrue across time or samples, producing a greater total than any single observation. First known uses locate in scholarly and legal writing before becoming common in scientific reports in the 18th–19th centuries, aligning with its Latin roots and the way cumulative sums are calculated in datasets and experiments.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Cumulative" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Cumulative" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Cumulative"
-ive sounds
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