How to pronounce liberal
Say it like LIB-ur-rul. Liberal has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce liberal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LIB
- ur
- rul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Liberal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LIBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- urGive this part a little weight.
- rulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of liberal
American and British speakers say liberal in essentially the same way: /ˈlɪˌbɜrəl/ in the US and /ˈlɪbərəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: LIB-uh-rul.
What does liberal mean?
- showing or characterized by broad-mindedness“a broad political stance”“generous and broad sympathies”
- having political or social views favoring reform and progress
- tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition
- a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform and the protection of civil liberties
- a person who favors an economic theory of laissez-faire and self-regulating markets
Where does liberal come from?
The adjective is from Old French liberal, from Latin līberālis (“befitting a freeman”), from līber (“free”); it is attested since the 14th century.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying liberal
How do you pronounce liberal?
Say LIB-ur-rul. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɪˌbɜrəl/. In British English it is /ˈlɪbərəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in liberal?
Liberal has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIB). Broken into parts: LIB · ur · rul.
Do Americans and Brits say liberal the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlɪˌbɜrəl/ and the British form is /ˈlɪbərəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.