5 syllables: Ca, pa, bil, i, ties. Stress on bil.
kay-puh-BIL-uh-teez
/ˌkeɪpəˈbɪlətiz/
Capabilities is pronounced kay-puh-BIL-uh-teez (/ˌkeɪpəˈbɪlətiz/). It has five syllables (Ca-pa-bil-i-ties), with the stress on "bil". Capabilities refers to the qualities or abilities that enable someone or something to perform a task or function. It emphasizes potential and capacity, rather than current action. In plural form, it often appears in discussions of resources, skills, or systems that have the capability to achieve results.
nounCapabilities refers to the qualities or abilities that enable someone or something to perform a task or function. It emphasizes potential and capacity, rather than current action. In plural form, it often appears in discussions of resources, skills, or systems that have the capability to achieve results.
- Common phonetic challenges focus on the placement of the primary stress and the final cluster. For many, /ˌkeɪ.pəˈbɪ.lɪ.tiz/ becomes /ˌkeɪ.pəˈbɪ.lɪd/ or the final /tiz/ is pronounced as /toʊz/. - Fix: practice the sequence slowly: keɪ (long A) + pə (schwa) + ˈbɪ (strong brief) + lɪ (short i) + тiz (tiz). Keep voicing consistent in /t/; avoid voicing the final consonant. - Another error is reducing the middle syllable too much, producing keɪ-pə-BIL-itz with an unclear /l/; ensure the /l/ is clearly produced before /ɪ/.
"Her capabilities as a leader were evident during the crisis."
"The software has new capabilities that streamline data analysis."
"We evaluated the team’s capabilities before assigning the project."
Say /ˌkeɪ.pəˈbɪ.lɪ.tiz/. The primary stress sits on the third syllable: ca-pə-BIL-i-ties. Start with a long A in the first syllable, reduce the second to a schwa, then emphasize /ˈbɪ/ in the third, ending with /lɪ.tiz/. Visualize: “KAY-puh-BIL-ih-tiz.” Audio references: consult Pronounce or Forvo for native pronunciation variants.
Two frequent errors are misplacing the primary stress and elongating the final -ties. People often say ca-PA-bi-lities or CAP-a-bil-i-ties. Correct approach: place primary stress on the third syllable /ˈbɪ/ and keep the final /tiz/ compact. Another pitfall is pronouncing /ˈbɪ/ as /ˈbiː/; keep it short and unstressed. Practicing slow, then normal speed helps stabilize rhythm.
In US, /ˌkeɪ.pəˈbɪ.lɪ.tiz/ with a schwa in the second syllable; rhotic /r/ is not prominent here. UK typically shares /ˌkeɪ.pəˈbɪ.lɪ.tɪz/ or /-tiz/ depending on speaker; non-rhotic tendencies make the final /z/ less pronounced. Australian tends toward /ˌkeɪ.pəˈbɪ.lɪ.tiz/ with crisp /t/ and clear final /z/. Core: stress on /bɪ/; be aware of vowel quality shifts and the final voiceless /z/ realization.
The word stacks four stressed units and a cluster transition: /keɪ/ to /pə/ to /ˈbɪ/ to /lɪ/ to /tiz/. The challenge is maintaining the strong third-syllable stress while keeping the second syllable reduced to /ə/. Also, the sequence /lɪ/ to /tiz/ requires a quick, but not clipped, transition. Practicing with slowed phoneme isolation helps build muscle memory for the rhythm and voicing contrasts.
Does the word ever lose a syllable in casual speech? Often speakers reduce unstressed syllables in rapid speech, but in professional contexts you should retain all four or five syllables with clear syllable-timed rhythm: /ˌkeɪ.pəˈbɪ.lɪ.tiz/. The primary stress remains on /bɪ/, and the final -ties should not become /tɪz/ overly; keep it concise and crisp.
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- US: rhotic, vowel quality: /keɪ/ as in day, /pə/ as schwa, /ˈbɪ/ as short i; final /tiz/ is crisp with voiceless /t/; IPA: /ˌkeɪ.pəˈbɪ.lɪ.tiz/. - UK: slightly less vowel reduction in some speakers; the final /tiz/ may be more dentalized; same stress pattern. - AU: tendency to heighten the final syllable; /ˌkeɪ.pəˈbɪ.lɪ.tiz/ with clear /t/ and /z/; non-rhotic tendencies affect linking; IPA remains similar. - Tip: practice with minimal pairs: capabilities vs capabilities (capable vs capabilities) to tune stress and vowel length; use IPA as anchor.
Capabilities comes from the late 15th century French word capability, derived from the Latin cap (-cap-, “to seize, take”) and caps, capere, meaning “to take.” The suffix -ity forms nouns of state or condition, yielding capacity or capability. In English, capability appeared in the 16th–17th centuries, initially in scientific and philosophical discourse to denote the potential to perform. By the 19th century, capability broadened to refer to practical aptitudes or resources. The plural form capabilities emerged to describe the collection or range of abilities and features that a system or person can possess or deploy.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Capabilities" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Capabilities" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Capabilities"
-ies sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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