How to pronounce unreliable
Say it like uhn-rih-LY-uh-bul. Unreliable has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce unreliable. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uhn
- rih
- LY
- uh
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unreliable 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.
- rihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- LYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- 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 unreliable
American and British speakers say unreliable in essentially the same way: /ˌʌnrɪˈlaɪəbəl/ in the US and /ˌʌnrɪˈlaɪəbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: uhn-rih-LY-uh-bul.
What does unreliable mean?
- liable to be erroneous or misleading“an undependable generalization”
- not worthy of reliance or trust“in the early 1950s computers were large and expensive and unreliable”“an undependable assistant”
- dangerously unstable and unpredictable“treacherous winding roads”“an unreliable trestle”
Where does unreliable come from?
From un- + reliable.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with unreliable
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of unreliable.
Questions about saying unreliable
How do you pronounce unreliable?
Say uhn-rih-LY-uh-bul. The American pronunciation is /ˌʌnrɪˈlaɪəbəl/. In British English it is /ˌʌnrɪˈlaɪəbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unreliable?
Unreliable has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LY). Broken into parts: uhn · rih · LY · uh · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say unreliable the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌʌnrɪˈlaɪəbəl/ and the British form is /ˌʌnrɪˈlaɪəbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.