How to pronounce horrible
Say it like HOR-uh-bul. Horrible has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce horrible. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HOR
- uh
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Horrible pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- bulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of horrible
American and British speakers say horrible in essentially the same way: /ˈhɔrəbəl/ in the US and /ˈhɒrɪbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: HOR-ih-bul.
What does horrible mean?
- provoking horror“an atrocious automobile accident”“a frightful crime of decapitation”
Where does horrible come from?
First attested in Middle English (alternately as horrible and orrible) in 1303: from Old French horrible, orrible, orible, from Latin horribilis, from horr(ēre) (“tremble”) + -ibilis (“-ible”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with horrible
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of horrible.
Questions about saying horrible
How do you pronounce horrible?
Say HOR-uh-bul. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɔrəbəl/. In British English it is /ˈhɒrɪbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in horrible?
Horrible has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOR). Broken into parts: HOR · uh · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say horrible the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈhɔrəbəl/ and the British form is /ˈhɒrɪbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.