3 syllables: A, li, bi. Stress on A.
AL-uh-beye
/ˈæləˌbaɪ/
Alibi is pronounced AL-uh-beye (/ˈæləˌbaɪ/). It has three syllables (A-li-bi), with the stress on "A". Alibi is a noun meaning a claim or evidence that one was elsewhere when a crime occurred, used to avoid guilt. It can also refer to a circumstance or proof that excuses someone from blame. In practice, it often denotes a verifiable or plausible reason for being absent from a situation. The term is common in legal, investigative, and everyday storytelling contexts.
nounAlibi is a noun meaning a claim or evidence that one was elsewhere when a crime occurred, used to avoid guilt. It can also refer to a circumstance or proof that excuses someone from blame. In practice, it often denotes a verifiable or plausible reason for being absent from a situation. The term is common in legal, investigative, and everyday storytelling contexts.
- You may over-pronounce the second syllable, turning /ɪ/ into a schwa or a longer vowel. Keep /ɪ/ short and crisp to avoid blending with /æ/. - Tendency to flatten the final diphthong /aɪ/ into a shorter /i/ or /ɪ/. Focus on a smooth, two-part glide from /ɪ/ to /aɪ/. - Stress misplacement: place primary stress on the first syllable; avoid stressing the final /aɪ/ as that changes the word's prosody. Correction tips: practice slow, exaggerated clearly segmented syllables, then gradually reduce gaps while maintaining stress and vowel integrity. Use minimal pairs like /mæ/ vs /æ/ and drills for /ɪ.baɪ/ to lock the correct rhythm.
"- His alibi placed him at the library during the time of the incident."
"- She produced a credible alibi supported by witnesses."
"- The suspect’s alibi collapsed under cross-examination."
Alibi is pronounced with three syllables: AL-i-bi, with primary stress on the first syllable. The standard IPA is /ˈæ.lɪ.baɪ/ in US/UK usage (and often /ˈæ.lɪ.baɪ/ in Australian speech as well). You begin with an open front vowel in the first syllable, then a short /ɪ/ in the second, and finish with the diphthong /aɪ/ in the third. Mouth position: open jaw for /æ/, relaxed tongue for /ɪ/, then a smooth glide into /aɪ/. Listen for a crisp, clear /ˈæ/ onset and avoid turning the second syllable into a schwa.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress (saying /ˈeɪ.lɪ.bi/ or /ˈæ.lɪ.biː/), reducing the final /aɪ/ to a short /i/ or /ɪ/, and blending the middle /lɪ/ too tightly with the first syllable. Corrective tips: keep the primary stress on the first syllable /ˈæ/, clearly articulate /ɪ/ in the second syllable, and finish with a precise /aɪ/ diphthong by gliding from /eɪ/ to /ɪ/ to /aɪ/. Practice slow, then speed up while maintaining the clear vowel qualities.
Across accents, the primary differences are in rhotics and vowel quality. In US and UK, /ˈæ.lɪ.baɪ/ with a non-rhotic UK variant may sound slightly more clipped on the final /aɪ/, while US tends to maintain a robust /r/ none, but the /ɚ/ isn't present—so rhoticity is not a factor here since alibi has no /r/. Australian English shares US-like rhotic tendencies but may exhibit a broader vowel in /æ/ and a slightly tighter /aɪ/ glide. Overall, the core stress and segmental timing remain, with minor vowel height variations and diphthongal movement.
The difficulty lies in producing the tight, three-syllable rhythm with a clear diphthong on the final syllable. The final /aɪ/ requires a precise glide from /ɪ/ to /aɪ/ without added schwa. Additionally, the second syllable /ɪ/ is short and can be blurred with /æ/ if you’re not careful. Practicing distinct vowel articulation and maintaining primary stress on /ˈæ/ will help you avoid common slurring mistakes.
The second syllable is pronounced with the short lax vowel /ɪ/ as in 'kit', so it sounds like 'li' with a short i, not a long 'ee' sound. So it’s /ˈæ.lɪ.baɪ/. The 'li' isn’t a long 'lee' sound; if you hear a long vowel, you’re likely elongating; keep the /ɪ/ short and reduce any extra vowel length.
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US: /ˈæ.lɪ.baɪ/ with clear /æ/ and a robust final /aɪ/. UK: similar but may be slightly crisper on the middle /ɪ/ and a less rounded /aɪ/. AU: often broader vowel qualities, with a slightly more centralized /æ/ and /aɪ/ glide. In all, keep stress on the first syllable and avoid reducing the middle vowel. Use IPA cues: /ˈæ.lɪ.baɪ/. Pay attention to non-rhotic tendencies only in connected speech when an /r/ appears elsewhere; alibi itself isn’t rhotic.
Alibi comes from Latin alibi, meaning 'elsewhere', formed from the phrase alibi est meaning 'he is elsewhere'. The word entered English via legal Latin usage in the 15th–16th centuries, originally in formal contexts to denote an evidence-based claim of absence. Early medieval jurisprudence used phrases like alibi defensionis to describe a defense asserting the defendant’s location at a different time. Over time, the term broadened beyond strictly legal syntax to common usage, signifying any defense or justification that explains away involvement in an event. The core semantic shift traces from a concrete spatial claim ('elsewhere') to a abstract justification or excuse presented to avert blame. In contemporary usage, alibi often appears in crime fiction, journalism, and everyday conversation, retaining the sense of a temporally anchored, verifiable absence that protects the accused or respondent from accountability. First known written appearances are found in legal Latin records of late medieval Europe, with English adoption documented by early modern legal glossaries and dictionaries. Modern dictionaries recognize both the legal sense and broader metaphorical usage, including colloquial contexts like “solid alibi” or “weak alibi.” pronunciation guides emphasize the three-syllable structure with stress on the first syllable: AL-i-bi.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Alibi" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Alibi"
-ibi sounds
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