How to pronounce fragile
Say it like FRAJ-ul. Fragile has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FRAJ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce fragile. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FRAJ
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Americans say 'FRAJ-ul'; Britons say 'FRAJ-ile', rhyming the end with mile.
Fragile pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FRAJSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of fragile
American and British speakers say fragile in essentially the same way: /ˈfrædʒəl/ in the US and /ˈfrædʒaɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: FRAJ-eyel.
What does fragile mean?
- easily broken or damaged or destroyed“a kite too delicate to fly safely”“fragile porcelain plates”
- vulnerably delicate“she has the fragile beauty of youth”
- lacking substance or significance“slight evidence”“a tenuous argument”
Where does fragile come from?
Borrowed from Middle French fragile, from Latin fragilis, formed on frag-, the root of frangere (“to break”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying fragile
How do you pronounce fragile?
Say FRAJ-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈfrædʒəl/. In British English it is /ˈfrædʒaɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in fragile?
Fragile has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FRAJ). Broken into parts: FRAJ · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say fragile the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈfrædʒəl/ and the British form is /ˈfrædʒaɪl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.