How to pronounce unbelievably
Say it like uhn-buh-LEE-vuh-blee. Unbelievably has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce unbelievably. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uhn
- buh
- LEE
- vuh
- blee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unbelievably pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhnGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- buhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- vuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- bleeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of unbelievably
American and British speakers say unbelievably in essentially the same way: /ˌʌnbəˈlivəbli/ in the US and /ˌʌnbəˈliːvəbli/ in the UK.
British respelling: uhn-buh-LEE-vuh-blee.
What does unbelievably mean?
- In a manner that one does not or cannot believe.“He gestured unbelievably. Everyone knew he was faking his illness.”
- To an extent not to be believed.“His face turned unbelievably blue. We realized he was actually choking.”
- Contrary to expectations, amazingly.“Unbelievably, Rudy saved the man's life but got sued for breaking two of his ribs.”
Where does unbelievably come from?
From unbelievable + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with unbelievably
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of unbelievably.
Questions about saying unbelievably
How do you pronounce unbelievably?
Say uhn-buh-LEE-vuh-blee. The American pronunciation is /ˌʌnbəˈlivəbli/. In British English it is /ˌʌnbəˈliːvəbli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unbelievably?
Unbelievably has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LEE). Broken into parts: uhn · buh · LEE · vuh · blee.
Do Americans and Brits say unbelievably the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌʌnbəˈlivəbli/ and the British form is /ˌʌnbəˈliːvəbli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.