How to pronounce unable
Say it like uh-NAY-bul. Unable has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce unable. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- NAY
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unable pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NAYSay 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 unable
American and British speakers say unable in essentially the same way: /əˈneɪbəl/ in the US and /ʌˈneɪbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-NAY-bul.
What does unable mean?
- (usually followed by to) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how“unable to get to town without a car”“unable to obtain funds”
- (usually followed by to) lacking necessary physical or mental ability“dyslexics are unable to learn to read adequately”“the sun was unable to melt enough snow”
- lacking in power or forcefulness“an ineffectual ruler”“like an unable phoenix in hot ashes”
Where does unable come from?
From Middle English unable, unabel, unhable, unhabil, equivalent to un- + able.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with unable
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of unable.
Questions about saying unable
How do you pronounce unable?
Say uh-NAY-bul. The American pronunciation is /əˈneɪbəl/. In British English it is /ʌˈneɪbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unable?
Unable has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAY). Broken into parts: uh · NAY · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say unable the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈneɪbəl/ and the British form is /ʌˈneɪbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.