How to pronounce ineffable
Say it like in-EF-uh-bul. Ineffable has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ineffable. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- EF
- uh
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ineffable 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.
- EFSay 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 ineffable
American and British speakers say ineffable in essentially the same way: /ˌɪˈnɛfəbəl/ in the US and /ɪˈnɛfəbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: ih-NEF-uh-bul.
What does ineffable mean?
- Beyond expression in words; unspeakable.
- Forbidden to be uttered; taboo.
- Something that is beyond utterance; something unspeakable.
Where does ineffable come from?
Borrowed from Middle French ineffable, a learned borrowing from Latin ineffābilis, from in- (“not”) + effābilis (“utterable”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying ineffable
How do you pronounce ineffable?
Say in-EF-uh-bul. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪˈnɛfəbəl/. In British English it is /ɪˈnɛfəbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ineffable?
Ineffable has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EF). Broken into parts: in · EF · uh · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say ineffable the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪˈnɛfəbəl/ and the British form is /ɪˈnɛfəbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.