How to pronounce acceptable
Say it like ak-SEP-tuh-bul. Acceptable has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce acceptable. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ak
- SEP
- tuh
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Acceptable pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- akKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- SEPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- bulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of acceptable
American and British speakers say acceptable in essentially the same way: /ækˈsɛptəbəl/ in the US and /əkˈsɛptəbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: uk-SEP-tuh-bul.
What does acceptable mean?
- worthy of acceptance or satisfactory“acceptable levels of radiation”“performances varied from acceptable to excellent”
- judged to be in conformity with approved usage“acceptable English usage”
- meeting requirements“the step makes a satisfactory seat”“I would kill for a decent cup of coffee”
Where does acceptable come from?
Morphologically accept + -able.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with acceptable
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of acceptable.
Questions about saying acceptable
How do you pronounce acceptable?
Say ak-SEP-tuh-bul. The American pronunciation is /ækˈsɛptəbəl/. In British English it is /əkˈsɛptəbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in acceptable?
Acceptable has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEP). Broken into parts: ak · SEP · tuh · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say acceptable the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ækˈsɛptəbəl/ and the British form is /əkˈsɛptəbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.