6 syllables: de, pen, da, bil, i, ty. Stress on bil.
dip-en-duh-BIL-it-ee
/dɪˌpɛndəˈbɪlɪti/
dependability is pronounced dip-en-duh-BIL-it-ee (/dɪˌpɛndəˈbɪlɪti/). It has six syllables (de-pen-da-bil-i-ty), with the stress on "bil". Dependability refers to the quality of being trustworthy and reliable, capable of being depended upon. It encompasses consistency, steadiness, and a predictable performance or behavior across varied situations. In professional and personal contexts, dependability is valued as a foundation for trust and responsibility.
Dependability refers to the quality of being trustworthy and reliable, capable of being depended upon. It encompasses consistency, steadiness, and a predictable performance or behavior across varied situations. In professional and personal contexts, dependability is valued as a foundation for trust and responsibility.
"Her dependability made her the go-to teammate for high-stakes projects."
"The company prizes dependability in its leadership team, expecting consistent results."
"We praised his dependability during the busiest quarter when others faltered."
Say de-PEN-də-BIL-i-ty, with primary stress on the third syllable -bil. IPA (US/UK) roughly /dɪˌpɛn.dəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/. Start with /dɪ/ softly, move to /ˌpɛn.də/ then peak on /ˈbɪl/ before the rest /ɪ.ti/. Visualize: de-PEN-də-BIL-i-ty; keep the syllables light and clearly enunciate each morpheme for natural flow. Quick tip: avoid tensing your jaw; use a relaxed, even tempo.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable, pronouncing it as de-PEN-dab-ility or de-pend-ability with weak -bil-; diffusing the /d/ into a dull stop or over-pronouncing the final -ty. Corrections: ensure the primary stress lands on the -bil- syllable: /dɪˌpɛn.dəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/. Keep the /d/ as a clear alveolar stop, not a flap; pronounce /ɪ/ in the -i- before -ty as a light schwa or short i, not a long vowel.
In US, the rhythm is de-PEN-də-BIL-i-ty with strong schwa in the first unstressed syllables. UK tends to a slightly crisper /ˈdɪˌpen.dəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ with more rounded vowels and longer final syllables. Australian tends to even more vowel reduction in the unstressed parts and a flatter intonation; final -ty often sounds like -tee. In all, the primary stress remains on the -bil- syllable, but vowel qualities shift slightly: US /ɪ/ vs UK /ɪ/ but with subtle length differences.
Two main challenges: a) maintaining the multi-syllabic balance across five syllables while placing primary stress on -bil-; b) producing the unstressed quick /də/ link between /ˈpen/ and /ˈbɪl/ without creating a heavy, drawn-out middle. The sequence /dɪˌpɛn.dəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ requires controlled vowel quality in the middle and precise alveolar /d/ timing to avoid slurring. Practicing with slow-to-normal tempo helps lock the rhythm.
There are no silent letters in dependability; every letter contributes to syllable count. The unique aspect is the shifted primary stress to the -bil- syllable in most natural speech, creating a tri-syllabic emphasis pattern: de-PEN-də-BIL-i-ty. Pay attention to the second unstressed syllables: keep them light and quick, not shouted. IPA cues help: /dɪˌpɛn.dəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/.
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US: crisp /ɪ/ in -bil-; lighter /ə/ in second syllable; rhoticity not a major factor here. UK: slightly tighter articulation; more precise enunciation of each syllable; final -ty often realized as /ti/ with less vowel reduction. AU: more vowel reduction in unstressed syllables; listen for flatter intonation and slightly longer middles. IPA references: US /dɪˌpɛn.dəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/, UK /dɪˌpen.dəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/, AU /dɪˌpen.dəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/.
Dependability is formed from the prefix de- (away, from) + depend (to rely on) + -ability (state or quality of). The verb depend comes from Old French dependre (to hang down, be subordinate, rely), from Latin dependere (to suspend, hang from), combining de- (down, away) with pendere (to hang). The noun dependability emerged in English in the 20th century as a quality or state of being dependable. The word relies on the sense of reliability anchored in consistently performing as promised. First known uses appear in mid- to late-20th-century business and psychological literature to describe the reliability of people, systems, or processes. Over time, dependability has evolved from a general notion of steadiness to a concrete performance metric in management and human resources, where it is used to denote predictability, responsibility, and durable trust. The modern usage often emphasizes reliability in work, leadership, and customer service contexts, where dependability correlates with accountability, punctuality, and enduring quality.”,
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Words that rhyme with "dependability"
-ity sounds
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