How to pronounce foible
Say it like FOY-bul. Foible has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce foible. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FOY
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Foible pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FOYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
- bulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of foible
American and British speakers say foible in essentially the same way: /ˈfɔɪbəl/ in the US and /ˈfɔɪbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: FOY-bul.
What does foible mean?
- A quirk, idiosyncrasy, frailty, or mannerism; an unusual habit that is slightly strange or silly.“Try to look past his foibles and see the friendly fellow underneath.”
- A weakness or failing of character.
- Part of a sword between the middle and the point, weaker than the forte.
Where does foible come from?
1640–50, from Early Modern French foible (“feeble”) (contemporary French faible).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying foible
How do you pronounce foible?
Say FOY-bul. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɔɪbəl/. In British English it is /ˈfɔɪbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in foible?
Foible has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOY). Broken into parts: FOY · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say foible the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈfɔɪbəl/ and the British form is /ˈfɔɪbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.