How to Pronounce “lucrative”

American (US)

/ˈluːkrətɪv/

British (UK)

/ˈluːkrətɪv/

Australian (AU)

/ˈlʉː.kɹə.tɪv/

adjective — Producing a great deal of profit.

Example: Consulting turned out to be more lucrative than teaching.

Synonyms: profitable, remunerative

Antonyms: unprofitable

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

Where the stress falls. “lucrative” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈluːkrətɪv/ 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. /ˈluːkrətɪv/ 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 "lucrative" mean?

lucrative (adjective): Producing a great deal of profit. For example — Consulting turned out to be more lucrative than teaching.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "lucrative", /ˈluːkrətɪv/, 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 "lucrative"?

/ˈluːkrətɪv/ in American English, /ˈluːkrətɪv/ in British English, /ˈlʉː.kɹə.tɪv/ in Australian English.

Which syllable is stressed in "lucrative"?

“lucrative” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈluːkrətɪv/ 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.