5 syllables: Com, mu, ni, ca, ble. Stress on mu.
kuh-MYOO-nuh-kuh-buhl
/kəˈmjunəkəbəl/
Communicable is pronounced kuh-MYOO-nuh-kuh-buhl (/kəˈmjunəkəbəl/). It has five syllables (Com-mu-ni-ca-ble), with the stress on "mu". Communicable (adj) describes something that can be transmitted or spread from one person to another, such as a disease or information. It is commonly used in medical or public-health contexts to indicate that transmission is possible under certain conditions. The word emphasizes the capacity for transfer rather than the mode or likelihood of spread.
adjectiveCommunicable (adj) describes something that can be transmitted or spread from one person to another, such as a disease or information. It is commonly used in medical or public-health contexts to indicate that transmission is possible under certain conditions. The word emphasizes the capacity for transfer rather than the mode or likelihood of spread.
How to Pronounce Communicable
"In many cases, tuberculosis is communicable only after the patient has developed symptoms."
"Public health officials monitor communicable diseases to prevent outbreaks."
"The device was not communicable by casual contact."
Pronounce it as kə-MYOO-ni-kə-bəl, with primary stress on the second syllable: /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.kə.bəl/. The sequence mju forms the “myoo” sound, followed by ni (nɪ) and ka (kə). Final -ble sounds like -bəl. Practice by saying: kə-MYOO-ni-kə-bəl, ensuring the “myoo” blends smoothly without a hard break between syllables.
Common mistakes: 1) Misplacing the primary stress on the first or third syllable; 2) Degliding the /juː/ into a simple /j/ or /uː/; 3) Not linking the -ni- and -ca- clusters, producing overly staccato syllables. Fix: maintain /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.kə.bəl/ with a clear /ˈmjuː/ sequence, keep the /nɪ/ separate, and glide the /juː/ into the /n/ for natural flow.
US: /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.kə.bəl/ with rhotic r absence in non-rhotic varieties? Actually US is rhotic: /kəˈmjuː.nə.kə.bəl? Wait. The standard is /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.kə.bəl/; the /juː/ is a strong diphthong after /m/. UK: /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.kə.bəl/ with similar /juː/ but vowel quality slightly shorter; AU: /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.kə.bəl/ similar to UK, with Australian vowel shifts, maybe slightly broader /ə/; All are non-rhotic in UK and AU? UK typically non-rhotic; US rhotic. So final coda /l/ clear; differences mainly in vowel quality and rhotics—US retains /r/ in spelling? It doesn’t apply after vowels; in any case the key is /ˈmjuː/ diphthong and /ɪ/ vs /ə/.
Because of the three-syllable-into- four-syllable rhythm and the /ˈmjuː/ cluster after a /k/; the long /juː/ diphthong followed by a quick /nɪ/ and a plural-leaning -kə-bəl ending can trip non-native speakers. The near-syllable pause before -ni- and the final -ble with /bəl/ also demand careful lip-tension and tongue slide. Mastering linking and reducing the inner vowels helps stabilize pronunciation.
Unique feature is the strong /juː/ after /m/ that creates a distinct 'myoo' sound, unlike the simpler /ju/ sequences in similar words. The /nɪ/ early in the word is short and quick, so you should avoid turning it into a long syllable. The final -ble keeps a light, almost schwa-like /ə/ before the /bəl/ ending, which is common in multisyllabic adjectives.
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Communicable comes from the Latin communicare, meaning to share or to communicate. The verb communicare is formed from com- (together) + mutare (to change or exchange) and entered English through Old French influence, evolving to the medieval Latin communicabilis meaning capable of being communicated. The term appears in pharmacovigilance and medical literature by the 17th–18th centuries, aligning with “communication” and “communication of disease” notions. Its adoption in medical vocabularies reflects the shift toward public health and epidemiology, where distinguishing transmissible conditions from non-transmissible ones became essential. The word’s trajectory tracks broader scientific emphasis on contagion, vectors, and infection control, with “communicable disease” becoming standard in the 19th and 20th centuries as germ theory solidified. The modern use maintains the core sense of transferability of a disease, idea, or information, especially through direct contact or close proximity. First known uses appear in scholarly Latin writings and early English medical texts, then expanding into contemporary public-health discourse discerning communicable vs non-communicable disease classifications.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Communicable" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Communicable"
-ble sounds
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