How to Pronounce “generative”

American (US)

/ˈd͡ʒɛnəɹətɪv/

British (UK)

/ˈd͡ʒɛnəɹətɪv/

Australian (AU)

/ˈd͡ʒenəɹətɪv/

adjective — Having the power of generating, propagating, originating, or producing.

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

Where the stress falls. “generative” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˈd͡ʒɛnəɹətɪv/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˈd͡ʒɛnəɹətɪv/ 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 "generative" mean?

generative (adjective): Having the power of generating, propagating, originating, or producing.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "generative", /ˈd͡ʒɛnəɹətɪv/, 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 "generative"?

/ˈd͡ʒɛnəɹətɪv/ in American English, /ˈd͡ʒɛnəɹətɪv/ in British English, /ˈd͡ʒenəɹətɪv/ in Australian English.

Which syllable is stressed in "generative"?

“generative” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˈd͡ʒɛnəɹətɪv/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.