5 syllables: in, op, er, a, tive. Stress on op.
in-AH-pur-uh-tiv
/ɪnˈɑpɚətɪv/
inoperative is pronounced in-AH-pur-uh-tiv (/ɪnˈɑpɚətɪv/). It has five syllables (in-op-er-a-tive), with the stress on "op". Inoperative describes something not functioning or not in service. It is used for devices, systems, or actions that fail to operate as intended, or are temporarily disabled. The term implies cessation of normal operation without implying permanent damage, and is commonly used in technical, medical, or formal contexts.
Inoperative describes something not functioning or not in service. It is used for devices, systems, or actions that fail to operate as intended, or are temporarily disabled. The term implies cessation of normal operation without implying permanent damage, and is commonly used in technical, medical, or formal contexts.
"The old machine has been inoperative since the power outage, so we can’t run the tests."
"During maintenance, several safety systems were made inoperative to prevent unintended shutdowns."
"Even though the device is inoperative, the manual still provides useful troubleshooting steps."
Say in-OP-uh-ruh-tiv with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU ˌɪnˈɒpərətɪv. Start with the initial short 'i' as in 'in', then 'op' as in 'op', a schwa after 'p', a light 'er' like 'er', and end with 'tiv' where the 'ti' sounds like 'tiv'. You’ll feel the tongue rise slightly for the 'ɒ' vowel, and the 'r' should be light or rhotic depending on the accent. 60–100 words.
Common errors: misplacing stress (stressing the first syllable as in-in-OP-erative), pronouncing the second vowel as a full 'o' rather than a schwa, and over-emphasizing the final 'ive' as 'eev' instead of 'ɪv'. Correction: keep primary stress on the second syllable, use a quick schwa after the 'p' (ə) and a short, unstressed 'ɪ' or 'ɪv' ending. IPA references help: ˌɪnˈɒpərətɪv.
US/UK/AU share the same general pattern, with rhoticity differences affecting the 'r' sound. US and AU typically have a rhotic /ɹ/ in 'er' (ˈɒpəɹətɪv), while some UK varieties are non-rhotic, sounding 'er' closer to /əː/ or /ɜː/ in rapid speech. The primary stress remains on the second syllable; the 'ɒ' in 'op' is more open in British varieties. Overall: US/AU more rhotic presence; UK may be less strongly rhotic in rapid speech.
Three phonetic hurdles: a) the unstressed schwa after /p/ (ˈɪnˈɒpərə-/) can blur if you rush; b) the combination /pə/ followed by /r/ creates a tricky trigraph cluster, requiring a quick, relaxed transition; c) the final /tɪv/ can drift into /tiv/ or /əv/ if you misplace tension. Practice by isolating the middle 'pə' and the ending 'rətɪv', ensuring clear /ɒ/ and a crisp /t/ before /ɪv/.
The word stores a secondary dynamic: the 'ɒ' vowel in 'op' sits under strong vowel height influence from surrounding fricatives; you’ll want a precise mouth opening for /ɒ/ and a light, rapid transition to /p/ without voice on the following consonant. The secondary stress isn't strong, but maintaining a clear, strong primary stress on the second syllable ensures natural rhythm.
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US: rhotic /ɹ/ in /ər/ and /ɹɪ/; keep a tighter mouth for /ɒ/; AU: similar to US but often a more centralized /əː/ in /ər/; UK: often non-rhotic; /ər/ reduces to /ə/ or /əː/; all: ensure primary stress on second syllable; IPA references: /ɪ/, /ɒ/, /ə/, /ɹ/, /tɪv/.
Inoperative comes from the combination of in- (a prefixes indicating negation) and operative, from Latin operativus, from opus, oper- meaning 'work, labor, action.' The sense of 'not in operation' developed in English by the 17th century, aligning with technical and medical usage where devices or systems are temporarily disabled or nonfunctional. Operative itself derives from the Latin operativus 'of or pertaining to work or action,' with the root opus, oper- linked to work; -ive is a common English suffix forming adjectives indicating having a specified quality. The prefix in- implies negation or absence, so inoperative literally means not in a state of operation. Early uses appeared in engineering and medicine to describe instruments or procedures that were not functioning as designed. Over time, inoperative broadened to describe plans, rules, or mechanisms that are temporarily disabled or ineffective, especially in formal, legal, or technical discourse. First known uses appear in 17th–18th century texts about machinery and mechanical failures, evolving to modern contexts like airline systems, software, and safety protocols where a device or process is not active or capable of operation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "inoperative" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "inoperative"
-ive sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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The following master guide provides a structured, word-specific approach to mastering the pronunciation of inoperative.
