How to pronounce disability
Say it like dis-uh-BIL-ih-tee. Disability has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (BIL).
- dis
- uh
- BIL
- ih
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Disability pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- disGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- BILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of disability
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: dis-uh-BIL-ih-tee.
What does disability mean?
- the condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness“reading disability”“hearing impairment”
Where does disability come from?
Circa 1570 disable + -ity.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with disability
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of disability.
- facility
- stability
- liability
- inability
- credibility
- visibility
- sustainability
- eligibility
- instability
- vulnerability
Questions about saying disability
How do you pronounce disability?
Say dis-uh-BIL-ih-tee. The American pronunciation is /ˌdɪsəˈbɪlɪti/. In British English it is /ˌdɪsəˈbɪlɪti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in disability?
Disability has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (BIL). Broken into parts: dis · uh · BIL · ih · tee.
Is disability pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˌdɪsəˈbɪlɪti/ (dis-uh-BIL-ih-tee).