How to Pronounce “aggressive”

American (US)

/əˈɡɹɛs.ɪv/

adjective — Characterized by aggression; highly combative; prone to behave in a way that involves attacking (especially if unjustly) or arguing.

Example: an aggressive policy, war, person, nation.

The final e is silent. The transcription /əˈɡɹɛs.ɪv/ ends on a consonant sound, so the written e at the end of “aggressive” is not pronounced.

Where the stress falls. “aggressive” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /əˈɡɹɛs.ɪv/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /əˈɡɹɛs.ɪv/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "aggressive" mean?

aggressive (adjective): Characterized by aggression; highly combative; prone to behave in a way that involves attacking (especially if unjustly) or arguing. For example — an aggressive policy, war, person, nation.

What is the IPA transcription of "aggressive"?

/əˈɡɹɛs.ɪv/ in American English.

Which syllable is stressed in "aggressive"?

“aggressive” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /əˈɡɹɛs.ɪv/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.