How to pronounce feeble
Say it like FEE-bul. Feeble has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce feeble. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FEE
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Feeble pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- bulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of feeble
American and British speakers say feeble in essentially the same way: /ˈfibəl/ in the US and /ˈfiːbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: FEE-bul.
What does feeble mean?
- Deficient in physical strength.“Though she appeared old and feeble, she could still throw a ball.”
- Lacking force, vigor, or effectiveness in action or expression; faint.“That was a feeble excuse for an example.”
Where does feeble come from?
From Middle English feble, from Anglo-Norman feble (“weak, feeble”) (compare French faible), from Latin flēbilis (“tearful, mournful, lamentable”) by dissimilation, from fleō (“to weep, cry”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₁-.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying feeble
How do you pronounce feeble?
Say FEE-bul. The American pronunciation is /ˈfibəl/. In British English it is /ˈfiːbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in feeble?
Feeble has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FEE). Broken into parts: FEE · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say feeble the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈfibəl/ and the British form is /ˈfiːbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.