Learn How to Pronounce alternative
Not sure how to say a word? Try the Promova pronunciation tool for free and learn how to pronounce anything in English correctly. Discover over 100,000 words and easily learn English pronunciation online!
Find your word:
Find how to pronounce a word and practice it in our free word pronouncer for English learners!
How to pronounce:
alternative
Definition:
(nou) one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen
Phonetic Transcription:
ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv
Examples:
The alternative is fractional degrees.
The alternative is not the edit of the original.
The alternative is to restore the original.
Learn more about:alternative
Related Words:
How to perfect your pronunciation of: alternative
Learn Individual Sounds
Break alternative down into individual sounds such as ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv. Practice these parts before you learn to say the whole word.
Copy Others
Use the tools above to find out how different people say alternative in their accents, then try to repeat after them.
Pick an Accent
Avoid mixing word pronunciations. If you’re learning American English, stick to it and try not to confuse yourself with British pronunciation.
Record Yourself
Say alternative in the pronunciation tool as many times as it takes before you get it right. Record yourself saying different sentences with alternative.
Get a Native Tutor
Improve your pronunciation with native speakers! Practice with American, British, and Australian teachers on Promova.
Common mistakes of alternative pronunciation
- Incorrect stress placement: Some learners place the stress incorrectly on the second syllable, saying "al-ˈtern-a-tive." The correct stress is on the third syllable, "al-ˈter-na-tive." Tip: Remember to emphasize "ter" when pronouncing "alternative."
- Mispronouncing the "t": A common mistake is to pronounce the "t" in "alternative" too softly, leading to "al-ˈtern-ə-tive." The "t" should be clear and crisp as in /t/. Tip: Practice saying "t" distinctly to improve clarity.
- Skipping the "n": Some may omit the "n" sound, resulting in "al-ˈter-a-tive." This alters the pronunciation and makes it less recognizable. Tip: Focus on articulating the "n" sound between the "ter" and "a" to maintain the word's integrity.
- Vowel sound confusion: Learners might confuse the vowel sounds, pronouncing "alternative" as "al-ˈter-nə-tive," using a schwa sound /ə/ instead of /eɪ/. Tip: Pay attention to the "a" in "alternative," which should sound like "air" in "airplane."
- Overemphasizing the final syllable: Some speakers place too much emphasis on the final syllable, pronouncing it as "al-ˈter-nay-tive." The final syllable should be less stressed. Tip: Keep the last syllable light and quick to sound more natural when saying "alternative."