How to pronounce liable
Say it like LY-uh-bul. Liable has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce liable. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LY
- uh
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Liable pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- 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 liable
American and British speakers say liable in essentially the same way: /ˈlaɪəbəl/ in the US and /ˈlaɪəbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: LY-uh-bul.
What does liable mean?
- at risk of or subject to experiencing something usually unpleasant“he is apt to lose”“she is liable to forget”
- subject to legal action“liable to criminal charges”
- (often followed by to) likely to be affected with“liable to diabetes”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with liable
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of liable.
Questions about saying liable
How do you pronounce liable?
Say LY-uh-bul. The American pronunciation is /ˈlaɪəbəl/. In British English it is /ˈlaɪəbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in liable?
Liable has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LY). Broken into parts: LY · uh · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say liable the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlaɪəbəl/ and the British form is /ˈlaɪəbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.