5 syllables: dis, a, bil, i, ty. Stress on bil.
dis-uh-BIL-it-ee
/ˌdɪsəˈbɪlɪti/
disability is pronounced dis-uh-BIL-it-ee (/ˌdɪsəˈbɪlɪti/). It has five syllables (dis-a-bil-i-ty), with the stress on "bil". Disability refers to a physical or mental condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities. It can also denote a long-term impairment or limitation arising from injury, illness, or congenital conditions. In general usage, it covers a wide range of conditions, from temporary impairments to permanent disabilities, and is often discussed in social, medical, and policy contexts.
Disability refers to a physical or mental condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities. It can also denote a long-term impairment or limitation arising from injury, illness, or congenital conditions. In general usage, it covers a wide range of conditions, from temporary impairments to permanent disabilities, and is often discussed in social, medical, and policy contexts.
- You may drop or soften the /s/ in the initial cluster, making it sound like ‘disability’ rhymes with ‘abilities’ instead of keeping the /s/ clearly separated. - The middle syllable /bɪl/ can be hurried; ensure the /l/ is released before the /ɪ/ of the final syllables. - The final -ity often becomes /i/ or /ti/ without a crisp /t/; avoid turning it into /dʒəɾi/ or /li/.
"She advocates for disability rights and accessibility improvements in the city."
"The program provides resources for people with disabilities to pursue higher education."
"Disability benefits are designed to offer financial support to eligible individuals."
Disability is pronounced di-SAB-i-luh-tee, with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US: /ˌdɪsəˈbɪləti/. Start with /d/ + /ɪ/ (short i), reduce the first syllable lightly, then stress the /ˈbɪl/ cluster. The ending /ɪti/ becomes /-ɪti/ with a light vowel before the final /i/. Audio cues: emphasize the middle syllable’s /bɪl/ and keep the final /ti/ crisp but not forceful.
Common errors include conflating the /ˌdɪsə/ with /ˈdɪsə/ causing misplacement of primary stress, and mispronouncing the final -ity as /iː/ instead of /ɪti/. Another frequent issue is reducing /bɪl/ too much, making it sound like /ˈbɪli/ or /ˈbɪlɪti/. To correct: keep the /b/ strongly released, maintain the /ɪ/ in the second syllable, and articulate the /l/ before the final /i/ clearly. Use slow tempo to lock the rhythm before speeding up.
In US English, primary stress on the 3rd syllable /ˌdɪsəˈbɪləti/ with a rhotic /r/? none. In UK English, similar placement but with non-rhotic tendencies; the /r/ is not pronounced unless followed by a vowel. Australian accents reduce the vowel quality slightly and may have a more centralized /ə/ in unstressed syllables. Across all, the critical features are the /b/ onset of the stressed syllable and maintaining three-syllable rhythm, but vowel qualities shift subtly in each accent.
The difficulty lies in the sequence of unstressed vs stressed syllables and the consonant cluster /sb/? The word’s three-stress pattern with secondary stress in some phrases makes it easy to misplace emphasis. The /s/ + schwa in the first syllable and the /b/ onset in the stressed syllable require precise timing. Additionally, transitioning from the unstressed /ə/ to the stressed /bɪ/ and then to the final /ləti/ can tempt speakers to flatten vowels or mispronounce the final /ti/.
A distinctive feature is the secondary syllable /ˈbɪl/ after the initial /dɪsə/. Users often search for the exact stress pattern and IPA, as well as guidance on the tricky /sb/ cluster across rapid speech. Including IPA and syllable counts in SEO content helps capture queries like “how to say dis-ability” or “pronounce disability correctly,” improving alignment with natural search phrases used by learners and professionals.
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- US vs UK vs AU: United States tends to maintain rhoticity; the /r/ is not present in disability, but the rhotacized environment around vowels changes listener perception. UK English tends to a slightly shorter /ə/ in the first syllable and less vowel reduction in fast speech. Australian English features a slightly higher, flat /ɪ/ in /bɪl/ and a more centralized /ə/ in the unstressed syllables. Use IPA references to compare /ˌdɪsəˈbɪləti/ across accents.
Disability derives from the Latin dis- meaning “not” or “apart,” and habilitas meaning “ability” or “trainability,” through Old French habilité and later Middle English. The notion of being unable or lacking power to act developed in religious, medical, and legal discourses in the medieval and early modern periods. The modern secular usage began to crystallize in the 17th–18th centuries, with disability referenced as a condition that diminishes capacity or function. By the 20th century, disability studies and civil rights movements reframed the term from a purely medical deficit to a social and political category, emphasizing barriers, inclusion, and equal access. The contemporary term encompasses diverse conditions—physical, sensory, cognitive, and mental health—and is used across medical, legal, educational, and advocacy domains. First known uses appear in medical and legal treatises in the 14th–16th centuries, progressively broadening to social contexts as disability rights gained prominence in the late 20th century. The evolution reflects shifting attitudes from paternalistic views toward person-first language and rights-based framing in policy and discourse.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "disability" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "disability" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "disability"
-ity sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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