How to pronounce stable
Say it like STAY-bul. Stable has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce stable. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STAY
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Stable pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- bulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of stable
American and British speakers say stable in essentially the same way: /ˈsteɪbəl/ in the US and /ˈsteɪbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: STAY-bul.
What does stable mean?
- resistant to change of position or condition“a stable ladder”“a stable peace”
- firm and dependable; subject to little fluctuation“the economy is stable”
- not taking part readily in chemical change
- a farm building for housing horses or other livestock
- shelter in a stable“stable horses”
Where does stable come from?
From Middle English stable, borrowed from Anglo-Norman stable, from Latin stab(u)lum.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with stable
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of stable.
Questions about saying stable
How do you pronounce stable?
Say STAY-bul. The American pronunciation is /ˈsteɪbəl/. In British English it is /ˈsteɪbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in stable?
Stable has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STAY). Broken into parts: STAY · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say stable the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsteɪbəl/ and the British form is /ˈsteɪbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.