4 syllables: du, ti, a, ble. Stress on du.
DOO-tuhbl
/ˈduːtəbl/
dutiable is pronounced DOO-tuhbl (/ˈduːtəbl/). It has four syllables (du-ti-a-ble), with the stress on "du". Dutiable describes something that is subject to duty or tax, typically at a border or customs point. The term is used in legal, administrative, and trade contexts to indicate items or goods that incur duties. It emphasizes the taxable status of goods rather than their legality or physical characteristics.
Dutiable describes something that is subject to duty or tax, typically at a border or customs point. The term is used in legal, administrative, and trade contexts to indicate items or goods that incur duties. It emphasizes the taxable status of goods rather than their legality or physical characteristics.
- You’ll often over-emphasize or under-emphasize the first syllable. Do not turn DUU into DU. - The middle /ti/ can blur into a quick /tɪ/ or merge with the schwa; keep it crisp: /ti/ rather than /tɪ/ or /tə/. - Final /bəɫ/ can be reduced to /bəl/ or even /bɫ/ in fast speech; maintain a light but audible /b/ and full /əl/. - It’s easy to flatten the last syllable, so practice with slow tempo first, then add speed while maintaining the /bəl/ sound. - To correct, practice with a slow, staged tongue position: dorsal contact on the alveolar ridge for /t/ release, keep the tongue behind top teeth for /uː/, then move to schwa before the /b/.
"The customs officer declared the package dutiable, requiring import VAT."
"Some goods may be dutiable, while others are exempt depending on their origin and use."
"Farm equipment imported for commercial sale is often dutiable unless covered by a special tariff."
Pronounce as DUH-tee-uh-buhl with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈduː.ti.ə.bəl/ or /ˈdjuː.ti.ə.bəl/, UK /ˈdjuː.ti.ə.bəl/, AU /ˈduː.ti.ə.bəl/. Start with a strong /d/ followed by long /uː/ or /juː/ depending on your accent, then a crisp /ti/ and a weak, schwa-like /ə/ before a clear /bəl/ ending. Mouth: lips rounded for /uː/, tongue high for /ti/, and the final /bəl/ with a light, quick vowel.”},{
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress, saying di-UT-i-ble; 2) Short /u/ instead of long /uː/ in the first syllable making it sound like 'duh-TEE-uh-bull' rather than 'DOO-tee-uh-bull'; 3) Dropping or weakening the /ti/ leading to /ˈduː.i.ə.bəl/ or /ˈduː.jiə.bəl/. Correction: emphasize the first syllable with /ˈduː/ or /ˈdjuː/ and clearly articulate /ti/ as /ti/ before the schwa; finalize with /bəl/.”},{
US: often /ˈduː.ti.ə.bəl/ or /ˈduː.tɪ.ə.bəl/, with less rhotic influence; UK: /ˈdjuː.ti.ə.bəl/ or /ˈduː.ti.ə.bəl/, clearer /dʒ/ value for 'du' when using /djuː/; AU: /ˈdjuː.ti.ə.bəl/ with tendency toward non-rhotic vowel shifts and vowel mergers in some regions. main rhotics: US/UK similar in final /bəl/, AU may show slightly promoted %r-like coloration only in broad speech; vowel quality may shift toward closer front vowels in some speakers.”},{
Key challenges: 1) Maintaining the long, tense /uː/ in the first syllable while avoiding a glide turning into /juː/; 2) Sequencing /ti/ clearly before a schwa, ensuring the /t/ is released crisply and not elided; 3) Final cluster /bəɫ/ requires a light syllabic /l/ and a soft, quick /əl/. Practice tip: isolate the three core sonorants in order: DUU-tee-uh-buhl, then blend smoothly; use minimal pairs with 'duty' vs 'dutyable' to train or use a tempo-reduction drill.”},{
No silent letters in the standard pronunciation. All letters in dutiable contribute to sound: the d-, u-, t-, i-, a-, ble ending; the notable feature is the schwa in the second last syllable and the clear /b/ before the final /əl/. Focus on not dropping the schwa and keeping the /b/ audible before the /əl/.
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- US: keep rhotic flavor minimal in non-rhotic regions; aim for /ˈduː.ti.ə.bəl/ with an open jaw for the first syllable; UK: more precise /djuː/ with a rounded lip posture; AU: maintain clear /juː/ with slightly more centralized vowels; In all, ensure the /ti/ segment is clean and not softened. - Vowel differences: US may have tenser /uː/; UK /juː/ often; AU similar to US but can be more relaxed; IPA references help track exact vowel positions.
Dutiable comes from the noun duty, from Old French dreit/det, which in turn traces to Latin debitum meaning ‘that which is owed’ or ‘a debt.’ The modern sense of duty as a tariff or import tax emerged in English through legal and trade vocabulary in the 16th–17th centuries, aligning with the mercantile and customs practices of the era. The suffix -able, from Latin -abilis via Old French -able, turns verbs or nouns into adjectives meaning 'capable of' or 'suitable for.' In this case, dutiable denotes items that are subject to duties. The first known uses entered English legal texts as commerce and tariff systems formalized, with early examples appearing in inscriptions and statutes addressing imported goods. Over time, dutiable solidified as a standard term in customs documentation and taxation law, maintaining a precise, technical tone and remaining widely used in government and trade contexts while remaining accessible in general usage as well.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "dutiable" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "dutiable"
-ble sounds
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