How to pronounce suboptimal
Say it like suh-BAHP-tih-mul. Suboptimal has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BAHP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce suboptimal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- suh
- BAHP
- tih
- mul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Suboptimal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- BAHPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- tihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- mulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of suboptimal
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: suh-BOP-tih-mul.
What does suboptimal mean?
- Worse than optimal; of less than the highest standard or quality.“A quickly produced suboptimal solution to a problem is often more useful than an optimal one that takes a long time to produce.”
Where does suboptimal come from?
From sub- + optimal.
Questions about saying suboptimal
How do you pronounce suboptimal?
Say suh-BAHP-tih-mul. The American pronunciation is /sʌˈbɑptɪməl/. In British English it is /sʌˈbɒptɪməl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in suboptimal?
Suboptimal has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BAHP). Broken into parts: suh · BAHP · tih · mul.
Is suboptimal pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /sʌˈbɒptɪməl/ (suh-BOP-tih-mul).