How to pronounce “receive”
Receive is pronounced /rəˈsiːv/. It has 2 syllables, and the beat falls on the second one — siːv. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 2 beats. The highlighted syllable is the strong one: say it louder, longer and a touch higher in pitch, and let the others fall away. English is a stress-timed language, so getting siːv in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern oO — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“receive” sound by sound
“receive” is built out of 5 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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rCurl the tongue tip back (or bunch the tongue body up) without touching anything, round the lips slightly, and voice — the tongue must never tap the roof of the mouth.
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əDo almost nothing: leave the tongue in its neutral resting position, mouth slightly open, and make the shortest, weakest possible vowel.
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sHold the tongue tip near (not touching) the ridge behind the upper teeth and force a narrow stream of air down the groove of the tongue.
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iːSpread the lips into a smile, push the front of the tongue high and forward, and hold the sound tense and long.
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vUpper teeth on the lower lip, push air through the gap, and add voicing so the lip buzzes.
Silent letters in “receive”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- eThe letter “e”Silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Words that rhyme with “receive”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Questions people ask about “receive”
- How do you pronounce “receive”?
- “receive” is pronounced /rəˈsiːv/, with the stress on the second syllable (siːv). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “receive”?
- “receive” has 2 syllables: rə · siːv. The stress pattern is oO.
- Does “receive” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead).
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