4 syllables: Ex, ecr, a, ble. Stress on ecr.
eg-ZEK-ruh-buhl
/ˌɛˈɡzɛkɹəbəl/
Execrable is pronounced eg-ZEK-ruh-buhl (/ˌɛˈɡzɛkɹəbəl/). It has four syllables (Ex-ecr-a-ble), with the stress on "ecr". Execrable is an adjective describing something utterly detestable or of very poor quality. It conveys strong condemnation and is formal, often used in elevated or literary contexts to emphasize moral or aesthetic repugnance.
adjectiveExecrable is an adjective describing something utterly detestable or of very poor quality. It conveys strong condemnation and is formal, often used in elevated or literary contexts to emphasize moral or aesthetic repugnance.
"The chef's attempt at a new sauce was execrable and ruined the meal."
"Her excuses were execrable, lacking any credibility or sincerity."
"The team's performance on the field was execrable, a nadir after last season."
Execrable is pronounced /ˈek-sə-rə-bəl/ in US and UK English, with primary stress on the first syllable. Break it as EX-e-CRABLE with a light schwa in the second syllable and a clear final -ble. Mouth positions: start with a hard E, then a neutral schwa, then a r-colored vowel, and finish with a light bəl sound. Audio references like Pronounce or major dictionaries confirm the pattern /ˈɛk.sɪ.rə.bəl/ depending on speaker. Practicing the three-phoneme sequence helps: /ˈek/ + /sə/ + /rə/ + /bəl/.
Common errors include misplacing stress on the second or third syllable (e.g., /ˈeks-ɪ-ˈrā-bəl/), pronouncing the middle /ɜ/ or /ɪ/ as a full vowel instead of a reduced schwa, and softening the final /əl/ to an overly syllabic /l/ or omitting the /r/ in some accents. Correct by enforcing primary stress on the first syllable, using a crisp /ə/ (schwa) in the second syllable, a rhotic /rə/ in the third, and finishing with /bəl/ where the /l/ is light but present.
In US and UK English, primary stress remains on the first syllable, with /ˈek-sə-rə-bəl/. Australian English mirrors this but may have a slightly tighter vowel in the first /e/ and a less pronounced rhoticity in some rural accents. The /ə/ in the second syllable is a relaxed schwa in all. Some speakers in fast speech elide the middle vowel slightly, producing /ˈeks-rə-bəl/. The rhotic consonant is typically pronounced in US and many UK varieties, whereas some non-rhotic UK accents may drop the rhotic after vowels in certain contexts, affecting perceived rhythm.
The difficulty lies in the sequence of consonants and the reduce-vowel rhythm: the cluster -ex-ecr- includes a tricky /ks/ sequence, and the middle unstressed syllable uses a weak schwa that can be mispronounced as a full vowel. The final -able tends to be realized as /əbəl/ rather than fully /eɪbəl/. Getting the rhythm right—strong initial stress, quick middle vowel, light final syllable—helps your mouth settle into the natural English cadence.
No, there are no silent letters in Execrable. Each syllable contains audible phonemes: /ˈek/ /sə/ /rə/ /bəl/. Some speakers may slightly de-emphasize the middle vowel, but the /ə/ remains audible in careful speech. The consonants /k/ and /s/ occur in sequence without a missing sound, and the final /l/ is typically pronounced, ensuring the word ends with a light but present consonant.
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Execrable originates from the Latin word execrabilis, formed from execrari “to curse, detest,” which itself comes from ex- “out of, away” + sacrare “to consecrate, vow,” originally implying something so vile it should be cursed or rejected. The Old French evolved term exécable, then Late Latin execrabilis, maintaining the sense of deserving condemnation. By the 16th century, English usage captured the general sense of “worthy of execration” or “abhorrent.” Over time, English usage broadened from theological or moral condemnation to denote extreme quality in a negative sense, particularly in literary criticism and formal rhetoric. Today, execrable retains formal, emphatic force, often used hyperbolically in criticising performances, performances, design, or behavior that are considered barbarous, faulty, or odious. The word’s phonology remains consistent with other -able adjectives, with primary stress on the second syllable (eg-EC-ra-ble), but speakers commonly misplace stress or reduce the first syllable in casual speech. First known use in English literature appears in the early modern period, aligning with the broader adoption of Latin-derived adjectives with the -able suffix, signaling moral or qualitative evaluation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Execrable" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Execrable" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Execrable"
-ble sounds
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