How to pronounce labile
Say it like LAY-byle. Labile has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce labile. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LAY
- byle
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Labile pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- byleKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of labile
American and British speakers say labile in essentially the same way: /ˈleɪbaɪl/ in the US and /ˈleɪbaɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: LAY-byle.
What does labile mean?
- Liable to slip, err, fall, or apostatize.
- Apt or likely to change.
- Of a compound or bond, kinetically unstable; rapidly cleaved (and possibly reformed).“Certain drugs can be conjugated to polymer molecules with a linkage that is labile at low pH to effect controlled release in a cellular endosome.”
Where does labile come from?
Borrowed from Middle French labile, borrowed from Latin lābilis (“slipping, transitent”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying labile
How do you pronounce labile?
Say LAY-byle. The American pronunciation is /ˈleɪbaɪl/. In British English it is /ˈleɪbaɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in labile?
Labile has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAY). Broken into parts: LAY · byle.
Do Americans and Brits say labile the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈleɪbaɪl/ and the British form is /ˈleɪbaɪl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.