How to pronounce illegible
Say it like il-EJ-uh-bul. Illegible has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EJ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce illegible. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- il
- EJ
- uh
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Illegible pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ilGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- EJSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- 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 illegible
American and British speakers say illegible in essentially the same way: /ˌɪˈlɛdʒəbəl/ in the US and /ˌɪˈlɛdʒəbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: il-EJ-uh-bul.
What does illegible mean?
- Not clear enough to be read; unreadable; not legible or decipherable.“illegible handwriting”
Where does illegible come from?
From il- + legible.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- dirty
- foul
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying illegible
How do you pronounce illegible?
Say il-EJ-uh-bul. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪˈlɛdʒəbəl/. In British English it is /ˌɪˈlɛdʒəbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in illegible?
Illegible has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EJ). Broken into parts: il · EJ · uh · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say illegible the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪˈlɛdʒəbəl/ and the British form is /ˌɪˈlɛdʒəbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.