4 syllables: a, llow, a, ble. Stress on llow.
uh-LOW-uh-buhl
/əˈlaʊəbəl/
allowable is pronounced uh-LOW-uh-buhl (/əˈlaʊəbəl/). It has four syllables (a-llow-a-ble), with the stress on "llow". Allowable means permissible or acceptable under a set of rules or standards. It describes something that is allowed within given limits, often in legal, policy, or procedural contexts. The term conveys a formal sense of permission, suitable for professional or administrative discourse.
Allowable means permissible or acceptable under a set of rules or standards. It describes something that is allowed within given limits, often in legal, policy, or procedural contexts. The term conveys a formal sense of permission, suitable for professional or administrative discourse.
- You may over-emphasize the second syllable, making it /ˈlaʊə-/ instead of a strong but balanced /əˈlaʊə-/. Aim for a mid-stressed second syllable. - Final syllable confusion: avoid over-pronouncing the -ble as /blə/; keep it compact as /bəl/ with a soft, quick release. - Middle vowel reduction: the /ə/ can be reduced too much; allow a light, quick schwa to avoid stumbling on the /b/ onset. - Coarticulation with following words: ensure the final /l/ blends smoothly with next word without an extra vowel chunk. - Missing the diphthong's quality: avoid a pure /a/—let /aʊ/ glide; practice with slow-moding then speed.
"The court found that the evidence was allowable under the rules of procedure."
"Only allowable deductions can be claimed on your tax return."
"The committee approved the proposal as allowable within the budget constraints."
Pronounce as /əˈlaʊə.bəl/ in US and UK. Start with a schwa followed by the stressed diphthong /aʊ/ in the second syllable, then a reduced /ə/ in the third, and finish with /bəl/. Common misstep is over-syllabicating the final -ble; keep it light: /ˈlaʊə.bəl/ with optional subtle schwa on the first syllable. Audio references: try listening to native pronunciations on Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries.
Two frequent errors: treating the second syllable as /laʊ/ with heavy emphasis, making it /ˈlaʊaʊ/; and pronouncing the final -ble as /bəl/ instead of a light /bəl/ after a weak vowel. Correct by shortening and softening the third syllable to a schwa: /əˈlaʊə.bəl/. Practice chunking: /ə-ˈlaʊ-ə- bəl/ while maintaining the peak on the second syllable.
US and UK share /əˈlaʊə.bəl/ with rhoticity affecting the /r/ only in rhotic accents; AU typically retains /əˈlaʊə.bəl/ but with slightly flatter vowels and faster consonant reduction. The main variation is vowel quality in /aʊ/ and the realization of the final syllable: some speakers reduce the middle vowel more in Australian English. Listen for the stressed second syllable and a light final /əl/ in all three.
The challenge lies in the three-syllable rhythm with a stressed nucleus on the second syllable and the /aʊ/ diphthong followed by a weak /ə/ before /bəl/. Coordinating a clear /aʊ/ transition from a light schwa to a soft /b/ closure can trip non-native speakers. Practice precise tongue height, jaw relaxation, and fast, small movements between segments to maintain timing.
There are no silent letters in allowable. Every letter contributes to its pronunciation: the initial /ə/ (unstressed schwa), the /ˈlaʊ/ diphthong, the mid /ə/ and the final /bəl/ closure. Some speakers lightly reduce the middle vowel, which can blur the /ə/ sound, but none of the letters are silent.
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- US: maintain rhoticity if the following word begins with a vowel; the /r/ is not present in allowable itself, but US vowel quality tends to be more rounded in /ə/ and /ə/ can be closer to a schwa or a mid-central vowel depending on speaker. - UK: slight reduction in the final /ə/; keep the /ˈlaʊə/ with crisp onset on /laʊ/ and soft /ə/ before /bəl/. - AU: faster articulation; vowels may be flatter, so reduce length of the /ə/ and /aʊ/ to fit a quicker syllable. Use IPA frames for practice: US /əˈlaʊə.bəl/, UK /əˈlaʊə.bəl/, AU /əˈlaʊə.bəl/. - Key tip: always keep the second syllable stressed and maintain a short, light final /əl/ to avoid adding syllabic clarity to the /l/.
Allowable comes from the Middle English phrase parable, via Old French allowable, from the verb allow, which itself derives from Latin licēre meaning to be permitted. The sense evolved from “to permit” to “permitted under rules” as legal and administrative vocabularies expanded in the 15th–17th centuries. The suffix -able indicates capability or suitability, giving the sense that something has the capacity to be allowed or approved. First known use in English cites usage in the late Middle Ages as legal and administrative texts began to standardize permissible actions within jurisdictions. Over time, allowable phrases consolidated into fixed adjectives describing things that comply with rules, ethics, or policy thresholds, particularly in formal writing and bureaucratic communication.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "allowable" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "allowable"
-ble sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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