Learn How to Pronounce drive
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:
drive
Definition:
(nou) the act of applying force to propel something (nou) a mechanism by which force or power is transmitted in a machine (nou) a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end (nou) a road leading up to a private house (nou) the trait of being highly motivated (nou) hitting a golf ball off of a tee with a driver (nou) the act of driving a herd of animals overland (nou) a journey in a vehicle (usually an automobile) (nou) a physiological state corresponding to a strong need or desire (nou) a device that writes data onto or reads data from a storage medium (nou) a wide scenic road planted with trees (nou) a hard straight return (as in tennis or squash)
Phonetic Transcription:
draɪv
Examples:
He used to drive a surrey instead of a car.
The drive shaft transfers the force to the hydraulic pump.
But the basic idea is to have cars drive bumper to bumper.
Learn more about:drive
Related Words:
How to perfect your pronunciation of: drive
Learn Individual Sounds
Break drive down into individual sounds such as draɪv. Practice these parts before you learn to say the whole word.
Copy Others
Use the tools above to find out how different people say drive 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 drive in the pronunciation tool as many times as it takes before you get it right. Record yourself saying different sentences with drive.
Get a Native Tutor
Improve your pronunciation with native speakers! Practice with American, British, and Australian teachers on Promova.
Common mistakes of drive pronunciation
- Misplacing the vowel sound: Some learners pronounce "drive" with an incorrect vowel sound, like /ɪ/ instead of /aɪ/. This can make it sound like "driv." Tip: Focus on the diphthong /aɪ/ to ensure clarity.
- Incorrect stress: The word "drive" is a single syllable, so placing stress incorrectly can confuse listeners. Some may mistakenly stress it as if it were two syllables. Tip: Remember that "drive" is pronounced as /draɪv/ with no secondary stress.
- Overemphasizing the "r": In some accents, the "r" in "drive" may be pronounced too strongly, making it sound harsh. This can distort the word. Tip: Use a softer "r" sound, as in /draɪv/, to maintain natural pronunciation.
- Dropping the final sound: Some speakers might omit the final "v," resulting in the pronunciation sounding like "dri." This can lead to misunderstandings. Tip: Always pronounce the final "v" clearly, as in /draɪv/.
- Confusing with similar words: Learners may confuse "drive" with "dive" or "driven," leading to miscommunication. These words have different vowel sounds. Tip: Pay attention to the vowel sound /aɪ/ in "drive" to distinguish it from others.