How to pronounce disable
Say it like dih-SAY-bul. Disable has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce disable. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- SAY
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Disable pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- SAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- bulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of disable
American and British speakers say disable in essentially the same way: /dɪˈseɪbəl/ in the US and /dɪˈseɪbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-SAY-bul.
What does disable mean?
- make unable to perform a certain action“disable this command on your computer”
- injure permanently“He was disabled in a car accident”
Where does disable come from?
From dis- + able.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with disable
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of disable.
Questions about saying disable
How do you pronounce disable?
Say dih-SAY-bul. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈseɪbəl/. In British English it is /dɪˈseɪbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in disable?
Disable has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SAY). Broken into parts: dih · SAY · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say disable the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈseɪbəl/ and the British form is /dɪˈseɪbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.