3 syllables: e, lect, ive. Stress on lect.
il-EK-tiv
/ɪˈlɛktɪv/
elective is pronounced il-EK-tiv (/ɪˈlɛktɪv/). It has three syllables (e-lect-ive), with the stress on "lect". Elective describes something chosen rather than mandatory, often referring to an optional course or procedure. It denotes freedom of choice within a set of options, and is typically contrasted with compulsory or mandated alternatives. In medical contexts it can also describe a planned procedure rather than urgent, and is often used in academic settings for courses that a student selects based on interest or program requirements.
Elective describes something chosen rather than mandatory, often referring to an optional course or procedure. It denotes freedom of choice within a set of options, and is typically contrasted with compulsory or mandated alternatives. In medical contexts it can also describe a planned procedure rather than urgent, and is often used in academic settings for courses that a student selects based on interest or program requirements.
- Common mistakes: • Misplacing stress on the first syllable, saying e-LEC-tive. Correction: keep primary stress on the second syllable and reduce the first vowel to a short, lax /ɪ/. • Over-articulating or elongating the final -tive, leading to a choppy rhythm. Correction: reduce the final vowel to a quick, clipped /tɪv/. • Vowel distortions in quick speech, e.g., /iː/ or /eɪ/ in the first vowel. Correction: practice with slow, isolated syllables /ɪ-ˈlɛk- tɪv/ before speed.
"She took an elective course in environmental science to broaden her academic portfolio."
"The hospital scheduled an elective surgery for next month, as it was not an emergency."
"In many universities, students must complete core credits, but can pursue an elective in their final year."
Pronounce as i-LEK-tiv with primary stress on the second syllable. US/UK/AU IPA: /ɪˈlɛk.tɪv/ (US) and /ɪˈlek.tɪv/ (UK/AU). Start with a short, lax initial vowel, then a clear ‘lek’ with a short e, then a schwa-like or short i in the final syllable. Keep the final consonant crisp: /tɪv/. Picture the sequence: i-Lek-tiv.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress by saying e-LEC-tive; correct by stressing the second syllable and lowering pitch on the first syllable. 2) Using a long “ee” sound in the first syllable; the first vowel is lax /ɪ/. 3) Slurring the final -tive into a fast ‘tive’ or ‘tiv’; practice with separate syllables /ɪ-ˈlɛk- tɪv/ to keep crisp final consonants.
US tends to /ɪˈlɛk.tɪv/ with a slightly lax first vowel; UK tends to /ɪˈlek.tɪv/ with a more clipped second syllable; AU mirrors UK but often with more centralized vowels in the second syllable and a clear /t/; overall rhoticity is not strongly affecting the word itself, but vowel quality in the first vowel can shift slightly toward a more closed /e/ or more centralized /ɪ/ depending on speaker. Stress remains on the second syllable.
Key challenges: the mid vowel in the first syllable is lax and short, unlike a true 'ee' sound; the secondary syllable carries the main stress requiring precise articulation of /lɛk/; and the final -tive includes a quick /ɪv/ cluster that can blur in rapid speech. Achieve clarity by isolating syllables: /ɪ-ˈlɛk- tɪv/ and practice with controlled tempo to prevent vowel reduction from harming intelligibility.
In 'elective', the initial vowel is a short, lax /ɪ/ as in ‘sit’, not a long /iː/ as in ‘seed’. The key is to keep the first syllable brief, letting the secondary stress fall on /ˈlɛk/; avoid a prolonged vowel that makes the word sound like ‘ee-lective’.
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- US: /ɪˈlɛk.tɪv/ with non-rhotic tendencies; slight reduction in unstressed vowels. - UK: /ɪˈlek.tɪv/ often with a crisper /k/ and tighter jaw. - AU: /ɪˈlek.tɪv/ may have a more centralized vowel in the first syllable and a crisp final /v/? Actually final is /v/. Show consistent /v/. References: IPA: /ɪˈlek.tɪv/.
Elective comes from Latin electiveus, meaning 'of election' or 'chosen by choice', derived from eligere ‘to choose, select’. The Latin root elig- means to pick out or choose, and the suffix -tivus (from -tus) forms adjectives indicating a tendency or capability. The word moved into English via late Latin and Old French, aligning with terms describing choice or preference. The sense expanded from general choice to specific contexts: in academia, an elective course is one one voluntarily selects rather than a required credit; in medicine, elective procedures are planned rather than emergent. The earliest attestations in English often tied to law or governance, but by the 17th–18th centuries it was common in education and medicine to distinguish between elective and mandatory options, shaping current usage. The modern focus is on optionality in both educational curricula and clinical decision-making, with etymology preserving the core concept of voluntary selection from a set of alternatives.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "elective" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "elective" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "elective"
-ive sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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