How to pronounce reliable
Say it like rih-LY-uh-bul. Reliable has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce reliable. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- LY
- uh
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Reliable pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- rihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- 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 reliable
American and British speakers say reliable in essentially the same way: /rɪˈlaɪəbəl/ in the US and /rɪˈlaɪəbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-LY-uh-bul.
What does reliable mean?
- worthy of reliance or trust“a reliable source of information”“a dependable worker”
- worthy of being depended on“a dependable worker”“an honest working stiff”
- conforming to fact and therefore worthy of belief“an authentic account by an eyewitness”“reliable information”
Where does reliable come from?
From rely + -able.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with reliable
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of reliable.
Questions about saying reliable
How do you pronounce reliable?
Say rih-LY-uh-bul. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈlaɪəbəl/. In British English it is /rɪˈlaɪəbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in reliable?
Reliable has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LY). Broken into parts: rih · LY · uh · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say reliable the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪˈlaɪəbəl/ and the British form is /rɪˈlaɪəbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.