How to pronounce "driveway"

driveway

Noun
American
/ˈdraɪvˌweɪ/

Syllable Breakdown

drive way

How natives say driveway

British
/ˈdraɪvweɪ/

Syllable Breakdown

drive way

How natives say driveway

Pronunciation Guide In American

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with 'drive': say 'd' as in 'dog'.

  • Say 'rive' like 'rye', with a long 'i' sound.

  • End with 'way': say 'w' followed by long 'a' as in 'day'.

Common Mistakes

  • drive-wey (wrong 'e' sound)

  • dreye-way (wrong initial syllable stress)

  • drih-way (short 'i' sound)

Pronunciation Guide In British

Pronunciation Steps

  • same as American

common mistakes

  • same as American

FAQ

What is the correct way to stress the word?

Stress the first syllable: 'DRIVE-way'.

How do I pronounce the 'i' in 'drive'?

Use a long 'i' sound, like in 'hi'.

Is the 'w' in 'way' silent?

No, pronounce the 'w' clearly, like in 'water'.

Definition

driveway

A short road leading from a street to a house or garage.

Word Family

drive

/draɪv/

verb

To operate a vehicle.

Example: He likes to drive fast cars.

driver

/ˈdraɪvər/

noun

A person who drives a vehicle.

Example: She is an excellent driver.

driven

/ˈdrɪvən/

adjective

Being very motivated.

Example: He is a driven individual.

Key Pronunciation Differences

Driveway vs. drive

- 'way' is added in 'driveway'.

Driveway vs. driver

- 'er' is replaced with 'way'.

Driveway vs. driven

- 'en' is replaced with 'way'.

Pro Tips

Focus on the stress

Remember to stress the 'drive' part stronger than 'way'.

Long vowel sounds

Ensure 'i' in 'drive' and 'a' in 'way' are both long vowels.

Nearby Words

Test Your Pronunciation On Words That Have Sound Similarities With Driveway

abroad

/əˈbrɔd/

accelerate

/əkˈsɛləˌreɪt/

accident

/ˈæksɪdənt/

accommodate

/əˈkɑːməˌdeɪt/

accompany

/əˈkʌmpəni/

accomplish

/əˈkɑːm.plɪʃ/

afford

/əˈfɔrd/

airline

/ˈɛrˌlaɪn/

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