respective
re·spec·tive/ɹɪˈspɛktɪv/adjective
respective is spelled R-E-S-P-E-C-T-I-V-E: 10 letters and 3 syllables (re·spec·tive). It appears 15 times per million words in written English, the 5,206th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, respective means “Relating to particular persons or things, each to each; particular; own” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in respective?
| Letters | 10: R-E-S-P-E-C-T-I-V-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3: re·spec·tive |
| In writing | 15 times per million words; the 5,206th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is respective?
Respective appears 15 times per million words in written English, the 5,206th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce respective?
- US /ɹɪˈspɛktɪv/
- Australia /ɹɪˈspektɪv/
Respective has 3 syllables, split re·spec·tive in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-respective.ogg, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Wodencafe-respective.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with respective?
10 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as respective from its last stressed vowel (/ɛktɪv/):
- perspective
- objective
- protective
- directive
- retrospective
- corrective
- introspective
- overprotective
- imperfective
- surjective
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
What does respective mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Relating to particular persons or things, each to each; particular; own.
They returned to their respective places of abode.
- 2
obsoleteNoticing with attention; careful; wary.
- 3
obsoleteLooking toward; having reference to; relative, not absolute.
the respective connections of society
- 4
obsoleteFitted to awaken respect.
- 5
obsoleteRendering respect; respectful; regardful.
a. 1598, William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, instructions to his son Robert Cecil, when young With thy equals familiar, yet respective.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Respective in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense referencing two or more things as individuals:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | respectif |
| German | jeweilig |
| Portuguese | respectivo, respetivo |
| Spanish | respectivo |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does respective come from?
Borrowed from Medieval Latin respectivus, from Latin respectus. By surface analysis, respect + -ive.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).