How to pronounce enable
Say it like eh-NAY-bul. Enable has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce enable. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- eh
- NAY
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Enable pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ehKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- NAYSay 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 enable
American and British speakers say enable in essentially the same way: /ɛˈneɪbəl/ in the US and /ɛˈneɪbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: eh-NAY-bul.
What does enable mean?
- render capable or able for some task“This skill will enable you to find a job on Wall Street”“The rope enables you to secure yourself when you climb the mountain”
Where does enable come from?
From Middle English enablen, equivalent to en- + able.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with enable
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of enable.
Questions about saying enable
How do you pronounce enable?
Say eh-NAY-bul. The American pronunciation is /ɛˈneɪbəl/. In British English it is /ɛˈneɪbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in enable?
Enable has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAY). Broken into parts: eh · NAY · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say enable the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɛˈneɪbəl/ and the British form is /ɛˈneɪbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.