Affordable is an adjective meaning reasonably priced and accessible, often describing goods or services that offer good value for the price. It implies cost that is not prohibitive, while not necessarily indicating luxury. In usage, it can modify products, plans, or options to denote economical quality combined with practicality.
US & AU accents are Premium
Unlock all accent variations
- You will often lift too much energy into the second syllable, producing /ˈæfɔːr.də.bəl/; instead, keep the initial schwa and stress on the second syllable. - The /ɔː/ in /fɔːr/ can be shortened; aim for a long /ɔː/ without dragging into /ɔr/. - The final /bəl/ can be overpronounced; make it light and quick, with a soft /l/ at the end. Remember the d is a quick, non-explosive sound between /r/ and /ə/.
- US: rhotic /r/ is pronounced; keep /ɔː/ stable and avoid flapping. - UK: non-rhotic or lightly rhotic; /r/ is not pronounced in most positions; you may hear a rounded /ɔː/ with a subtle /ə/ before final /bəl/. - AU: generally rhotic with clear /r/ and slightly broader vowels; maintain /ɔː/ quality and preserve the light /d/ onset before /ə/.
"The new smartphones are affordable without compromising essential features."
"We found an affordable itinerary that still covers all the major sights."
"The rental units are affordable for families on a tight budget."
"Although not premium, the service remains affordable and reliable for everyday needs."
Affordable comes from the phrase 'to make affordable' which originates in Middle English in the 14th century as a compound of 'afford' meaning to be able to provide or supply (from Old English af-forian, meaning 'to provide' or 'sufficient'). The sense evolved from indicating something one could bear or supply to the modern meaning of something reasonably priced. The root afford itself derives from a combination of 'a' (toward) and 'forhtian/forian' (to gain or acquire) in older Germanic languages, with cognates across Dutch and German illustrating the theme of capability and provision. By the 16th–17th centuries, 'affordable' appeared in English as an attributive adjective describing things within the reach of a buyer’s means. The term rose in popularity in consumer discourse during the industrial era when mass-produced goods created new price benchmarks. In contemporary usage, it often pairs with consumer goods and services, signaling value rather than luxury, and is used in marketing to balance price with perceived quality.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "affordable" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "affordable" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "affordable" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "affordable"
-ble sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce as /əˈfɔːr.də.bəl/ in US/UK/AU accents. The first syllable is schwa, then a stressed /fɔːr/ with a long open-o sound, followed by a light /dər/ and a unstressed /bəl/ ending. Focus on the rhotic /r/ in rhotic accents and keep the /l/ soft but clear at the end. You’ll want a clean /ɔː/ before the /r/ and a light, quick /d/ before the /ə/; the final /bəl/ is a quick, almost syllabic /l/.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (say /əˈfɔːr.də.bəl/ with wrong stress), mispronouncing the /ɔː/ as a short /ɒ/ in some dialects, and producing a heavy /d/ or a overly pronounced final /l/. Correct by maintaining secondary stresslessness on the last two syllables, ensuring the /ɔː/ stays long, and keeping the /d/ brief before the schwa. End with a light, clear /bəl/ rather than a heavy /bəld/.
In US, the /ɔː/ can be closer to /ɔ/ or a tense /ɔː/ depending on region, with rhotic /r/ pronounced; the /ɚ/ may influence the second syllable in rapid speech. UK tends to smooth the /ɔː/ and may reduce the /r/ in non-rhotic varieties, making the word sound a touch more like /əˈfɔː.də.bəl/ with a lighter /ə/ in the second syllable. Australian often exhibits a clear /ɔː/ with a more pronounced /d/ and a more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable; final syllable /bəl/ remains similar.
Difficulties include achieving the long /ɔː/ after the initial /f/, the /ˈfɔːr/ cluster, and the unstressed, reduced vowels in the final two syllables, especially the /ə/ and /ə/ before the final /bəl/. The sequence /fɔːr.də/ can cause confusion between /d/ and /t/ for some speakers, and the final /əl/ can blur into a dark /l/ or a syllabic /l/ depending on accent. Practice steadiness of the /ɔː/ and the light touch on the /d/.
A distinctive feature is the /ˈfɔːr/ stressed syllable with a prominent rhotic vowel in rhotic accents and the transition into a light /dər/ followed by a weakly pronounced /bəl/. The combination of a long open-mid back vowel and a soft, almost elided final consonant cluster is a reliable cue. The rhythm is two primary beats: strong on the second syllable, and a quick, sonorous tail. IPA cue: /əˈfɔːr.də.bəl/.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "affordable"!
- Shadowing: listen to two native speakers saying 'affordable' in context for 2 minutes; imitate exactly, including pace and intonation. - Minimal pairs: affordable vs affordable (a few dialect variants): /əˈfɔːr.də.bəl/ vs /əˈfæːrdəbəl/ (practice to feel the edge). - Rhythm: tap the beat on syllables 1-3; sashay into syllable 4 with lighter stress. - Stress practice: mark primary stress on syllable 2; practice moving from a quick first syllable to a strong second syllable. - Recording: record yourself saying sentences with 'affordable' and compare to reference recordings.
No related words found
