How To Pronounce Improve

improve

Phonemic

/ɪmˈpruːv/

Phonetic

[ɪ̃mˈpr̥ʷuːv]

Phonemic

/ɪmˈpruːv/

In British English, improve is pronounced /ɪmˈpruːv/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ɪ̃mˈpr̥ʷuːv]. In American English, it is pronounced /ɪmˈpruːv/.

Improve has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second syllable. British and American speakers say it the same way.

Slashes / / show the phonemic transcription, the sounds that change meaning. Square brackets [ ] show the phonetic transcription, with the finer detail of how the sounds are actually made.

Syllables, Stress And Endings

Syllables And Stress

ɪmpruːv

Improve has two syllables in British English, and the main stress is on the second syllable, shown in colour above. Its stress pattern is oO, where O is the stressed syllable.

improve + -s

-s (plural, possessive or singular verb) is /z/ after a voiced consonant or a vowel sound.

/ɪmˈpruːvz/

improve + -ed

-ed (past tense or past participle) is /d/ after a voiced consonant or a vowel sound.

/ɪmˈpruːvd/

improve + -ing

-ing is always /ɪŋ/.

/ɪmˈpruː.vɪŋ/

Words That Rhyme With Improve

Questions About Improve

How do you pronounce improve in British English?

In British English, improve is pronounced /ɪmˈpruːv/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ɪ̃mˈpr̥ʷuːv].

How do you pronounce improve in American English?

In American English, improve is pronounced /ɪmˈpruːv/.

How many syllables are in improve?

Improve has two syllables, /ɪm/ + /pruːv/.

Where is the stress in improve?

The main stress is on the second syllable, /pruːv/.

Do British and American English pronounce improve the same way?

Yes. Both are /ɪmˈpruːv/.

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Other Words With The Stress Pattern oO

Nearby Words

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