How to pronounce irreversible
Say it like ir-ih-VUR-suh-bul. Irreversible has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (VUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce irreversible. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ir
- ih
- VUR
- suh
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Irreversible pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- irGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- VURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- 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 irreversible
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: ir-ih-VUR-suh-bul.
What does irreversible mean?
- Incapable of being reversed or turned about or back; incapable of being made to run backwards.“an irreversible engine”
- Incapable of being reversed, recalled, repealed, or annulled.“an irreversible sentence or decree”
- Incapable of being reversed to the original state without consumption of free energy and increase of entropy.
Where does irreversible come from?
From ir- + reversible.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying irreversible
How do you pronounce irreversible?
Say ir-ih-VUR-suh-bul. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪrɪˈvɝsəbəl/. In British English it is /ˌɪrɪˈvɜːsəbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in irreversible?
Irreversible has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (VUR). Broken into parts: ir · ih · VUR · suh · bul.
Is irreversible pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌɪrɪˈvɜːsəbəl/ (ir-ih-VUR-suh-bul).