suh-PAWR-tiv
/səˈpɔɹtɪv/
supportive is pronounced suh-PAWR-tiv (/səˈpɔɹtɪv/). Supportive describes someone who provides encouragement, assistance, or emotional backing. It conveys consistent, proactive help and a positive, affirming stance toward others. In usage, it often characterizes behavior, attitudes, or environments that foster confidence and resilience.
Supportive describes someone who provides encouragement, assistance, or emotional backing. It conveys consistent, proactive help and a positive, affirming stance toward others. In usage, it often characterizes behavior, attitudes, or environments that foster confidence and resilience.
"The counselor was supportive, listening carefully and offering practical guidance."
"Her teammates were supportive after the setback, helping with tasks and staying optimistic."
"We appreciated his supportive words, which reassured everyone during the transition."
Pronounce it as /səˈpɔːr.tɪv/ in US and UK; in many accents, the second syllable carries primary stress and the r is pronounced in rhotic varieties. Break it into syllables: s-uh-PORT-ive, with a clear /ɔː/ vowel in the stressed 'port' portion and a short, relaxed final /v/. Mouth position: start with a relaxed schwa, raise the jaw for /ɔː/ in the stressed syllable, then finish with a crisp /v/ via upper teeth on the lower lip. Audio reference you can check: Cambridge and Oxford dictionaries offer pronunciation audio; YouGlish search for random usage will also help hear natural flow.
Common errors include: (1) misplacing stress on the first syllable, saying /ˈsə-pɔr-tɪv/ instead of the common /səˈpɔːr.tɪv/. (2) Vowel laxness in /ɔːr/ leading to /ɔr/ or /ɒ/. (3) Final /v/ merging with a following consonant in quick speech, producing a voiceless fricative or a devoiced end. Correction tips: clearly release the /ɔː/ in the stressed syllable with slight prolongation, and keep /r/ in rhotic accents. Ensure the final /v/ is voiced and not reduced to a /f/ when speaking quickly. Practicing with slow, touching your lips for /v/ can help maintain voicing.
In US English, /səˈpɔːr.tɪv/ with rhotic /r/ and a long stressed /ɔː/. In UK English, /səˈpɔː.tɪv/ typically features non-rhoticity in many dialects, though some speakers retain /r/ in linking positions; the /ɔː/ vowel remains long. Australian English commonly uses /səˈpɔː.tɪv/ with a broad, even vowel quality and less pronounced rhoticity in non-stressed positions. The main differences lie in rhoticity and vowel length, especially in the /ɔː/ and the treatment of /r/ in the second syllable. For precise phonetic cues, compare IPA transcriptions: US /ˌsəˈpɔːr.tɪv/, UK /səˈpɔː.tɪv/, AU /səˈpɔː.tɪv/ with subtle vowel quality shifts.
The challenge comes from the cluster /ˈpɔːr/ where the long back rounded vowel /ɔː/ requires precise tongue retraction and lip rounding, followed by an immediate /r/ in rhotic accents, which can blur into an /ɹ/ or be silent in non-rhotic dialects. The final /tɪv/ must be crisp with clear voicing for /v/; quick speech can cause devoicing or flapping in American casual speech. Additionally, the two-syllable pattern with the secondary stress is subtle, so you must maintain sequence: schwa, stressed /ɔː/, then /tɪv/.
In standard American English, the rhyme /ɔːr/ includes the rhotic /r/; in non-rhotic UK dialects, the /r/ may be silent when not followed by a vowel, but in 'supportive' the /r/ is part of the stressed syllable and typically pronounced when linking to following vowels (for example, 'supportive evidence' might show a linking /ɹ/). Some regional UK varieties may de-emphasize rhoticity, but with careful listening you’ll hear a softer or elided /r/ in rapid speech. For practice, rehearse both with and without linking /r/ to hear native variation.
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Supportive derives from the verb support, which comes from the Old French supporter, from Latin supportare (sub- ‘from below’ + portare ‘to carry’). The sense of giving aid, backing, or sustenance evolved through English usage in the 14th–16th centuries, often in contexts of physical support (carrying, bearing) and, later, emotional or moral backing. By the 19th century, supportive acquired its more figurative sense of providing encouragement, assistance, or advocacy in social and professional settings. The suffix -ive forms adjectives indicating a quality or tendency. The word’s development tracks the broader shift in English toward describing interpersonal behavior and relational environments rather than only tangible aid, aligning with terms like supportive friend, supportive environment, and supportive care in medical and social contexts. First known use as a distinct modifier appears in mid- to late-19th century literature, with increasing frequency in modern psychology, education, and workplace discourse to denote a climate or stance favorable to someone’s growth and success.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "supportive" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "supportive" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "supportive"
-ive sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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