How to pronounce libelous
Say it like LY-buh-lus. Libelous 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 libelous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LY
- buh
- lus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Libelous 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.
- buhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- lusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of libelous
American and British speakers say libelous in essentially the same way: /ˈlaɪbələs/ in the US and /ˈlaɪbələs/ in the UK.
British respelling: LY-buh-lus.
What does libelous mean?
- Defamatory, libeling, referring to something that causes harm to someone's reputation especially with malice or disregard.“The accusation was libelous, full of falsehoods, spite and malice.”
- Meeting the legal standards for libel.“The court found the statement was not libelous because it was true.”
Where does libelous come from?
From libel + -ous.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying libelous
How do you pronounce libelous?
Say LY-buh-lus. The American pronunciation is /ˈlaɪbələs/. In British English it is /ˈlaɪbələs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in libelous?
Libelous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LY). Broken into parts: LY · buh · lus.
Do Americans and Brits say libelous the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlaɪbələs/ and the British form is /ˈlaɪbələs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.