How to pronounce tenable
Say it like TEN-uh-bul. Tenable has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tenable. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TEN
- uh
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tenable pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- 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 tenable
American and British speakers say tenable in essentially the same way: /ˈtɛnəbəl/ in the US and /ˈtɛnəbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: TEN-uh-bul.
What does tenable mean?
- capable of being maintained or justified; well-founded“Back in the 1800s, many did not consider Darwin's theory of evolution to be tenable at all.”
- Capable of being defended against assault or attack; defensible
- Fit for habitation, similar, or related use.
Where does tenable come from?
From the French tenable, from tenir (“to hold”); compare tenible.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with tenable
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tenable.
Questions about saying tenable
How do you pronounce tenable?
Say TEN-uh-bul. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɛnəbəl/. In British English it is /ˈtɛnəbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tenable?
Tenable has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEN). Broken into parts: TEN · uh · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say tenable the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtɛnəbəl/ and the British form is /ˈtɛnəbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.