How to Pronounce “conceive”

American (US)

/kənˈsiːv/

British (UK)

/kənˈsiːv/

verb — To have a child; to become pregnant (with).

Example: Assisted procreation can help those trying to conceive.

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

Where the stress falls. “conceive” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /kənˈsiːv/ 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. /kənˈsiːv/ 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 "conceive" mean?

conceive (verb): To have a child; to become pregnant (with). For example — Assisted procreation can help those trying to conceive.

How do you pronounce "conceive" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "conceive", /kənˈsiːv/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "conceive"?

/kənˈsiːv/ in American English, /kənˈsiːv/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "conceive"?

“conceive” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /kənˈsiːv/ 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.