How to pronounce indispensable
Say it like in-dih-SPEN-suh-bul. Indispensable has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SPEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce indispensable. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- dih
- SPEN
- suh
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Indispensable pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- inGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- SPENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- suhKeep 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 indispensable
American and British speakers say indispensable in essentially the same way: /ˌɪndɪˈspɛnsəbəl/ in the US and /ˌɪndɪˈspɛnsəbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: in-dih-SPEN-suh-bul.
What does indispensable mean?
- Absolutely necessary or requisite; that one cannot do without.“An indispensable component of a heart-healthy diet.”
- Unbendable, that cannot be set aside or ignored.
- A thing that is not dispensable; a necessity.
- Trousers.
Where does indispensable come from?
Borrowed from Middle French indispensable, from Medieval Latin indispensābilis, corresponding to in- + dispensable.
Words that rhyme with indispensable
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of indispensable.
Questions about saying indispensable
How do you pronounce indispensable?
Say in-dih-SPEN-suh-bul. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪndɪˈspɛnsəbəl/. In British English it is /ˌɪndɪˈspɛnsəbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in indispensable?
Indispensable has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SPEN). Broken into parts: in · dih · SPEN · suh · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say indispensable the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪndɪˈspɛnsəbəl/ and the British form is /ˌɪndɪˈspɛnsəbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.