How to pronounce miserable
Say it like MIZ-uh-ruh-bul. Miserable has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MIZ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce miserable. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MIZ
- uh
- ruh
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Miserable pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MIZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- ruhKeep 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 miserable
American and British speakers say miserable in essentially the same way: /ˈmɪzərəbəl/ in the US and /ˈmɪzərəbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: MIZ-uh-ruh-bul.
What does miserable mean?
- very unhappy; full of misery“he felt depressed and miserable”“a message of hope for suffering humanity”
- deserving or inciting pity“a hapless victim”“miserable victims of war”
- of the most contemptible kind“abject cowardice”“a low stunt to pull”
Where does miserable come from?
Borrowed from Middle French miserable, from Old French, from Latin miserabilis, equivalent to miser + -able.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying miserable
How do you pronounce miserable?
Say MIZ-uh-ruh-bul. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɪzərəbəl/. In British English it is /ˈmɪzərəbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in miserable?
Miserable has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MIZ). Broken into parts: MIZ · uh · ruh · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say miserable the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmɪzərəbəl/ and the British form is /ˈmɪzərəbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.