3 syllables: flex, i, ble. Stress on flex.
FLEK-suh-buhl
/ˈflɛksəbəl/
flexible is pronounced FLEK-suh-buhl (/ˈflɛksəbəl/). It has three syllables (flex-i-ble), with the stress on "flex". Flexible describes the ability to bend or adapt without breaking, or to adjust plans, strategies, or behaviors as needed. It implies ease of modification and responsiveness to circumstances, often balancing resilience with adaptability. In usage, it can refer to physical pliability as well as versatile, adaptable approaches in thinking or scheduling.
Flexible describes the ability to bend or adapt without breaking, or to adjust plans, strategies, or behaviors as needed. It implies ease of modification and responsiveness to circumstances, often balancing resilience with adaptability. In usage, it can refer to physical pliability as well as versatile, adaptable approaches in thinking or scheduling.
"The metal rod is flexible enough to bend without snapping."
"She has a flexible work schedule that allows for family commitments."
"The curriculum is flexible, accommodating different learning speeds."
Pronounce as /ˈflɛk.sɪ.bəl/ in US and AU, and /ˈflek.sɪ.bl̩/ in many UK variants. Start with a clear F sound, then a short 'e' as in 'bed', followed by 'k' and an unstressed schwa-ish 'si' syllable, ending with a light 'ble' where the 'e' contributes a subtle syllabic or reduced vowel. Stress is on the first syllable: FLEX-ible. Tip: keep the 'ble' syllable light and avoid tensing the tongue for a clean, quick closure.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing the stress on the second syllable; flexi-ble tends to sound like 'flexi-bull' if you overemphasize the second part. (2) Overpronouncing the final -ble as a full 'blee' or 'bul' ending; keep it as a weak -bəl with a quick, reduced vowel. (3) Slim syllable cueing: rushing the middle 'si' and merging into 'ble'; practice separating into three clear phonemic blocks: /ˈflɛk/ /sɪ/ /bəl/.
US and AU typically use /ˈflɛk.sɪ.bəl/ with rhoticity affecting only rhotic accents; the UK may realize the second syllable as a more clipped /ˈflek.sɪ.bl̩/ or with a slightly reduced vowel in the final -ble; some UK speakers may connect the middle /k/ and /s/ into a more rapid /k s/ sequence. Australian tends to maintain a reduced final syllable without strong emphasis on the last vowel; overall, the primary stress remains on the first syllable.
The difficulty lies in the sequence of consonants /k/ followed by /s/ without an intervening vowel, plus the final consonant cluster /bl/ with a reduced final vowel. Additionally, maintaining the exact short vowel /ɛ/ in the first syllable while keeping the subsequent /ɪ/ in a reduced form demands careful tongue position and lip rounding. Practice balancing a crisp initial /fl/ onset with a light, quick middle and a subtle final syllable.
A useful tip is to segment the word into three stable phonemic blocks: /flɛk/ + /sɪ/ + /bəl/. Keep your lips rounded slightly for the /f/ and /v/ transition, then relax into a light schwa for /ɪ/ and a syllabic /l/ or reduced /əl/ ending. Practicing with a mirror helps; watch for a tight jaw on the /k/ and ensure the /s/ is crisp but not overly sibilant.
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Flexible originates from the Latin word flexus, the past participle of flectere, meaning to bend. The core root flect- carries the sense of bending or turning. The form -ible comes from the Latin -ibilis, meaning capable of or susceptible to. The English adoption likely occurred via Old French as flexible in the late Middle Ages, aligning with other -ible adjectives such as legible and credible. Over time, the semantic field broadened from physical pliability—something that can be bent without breaking—to metaphorical pliability, describing ideas, plans, or policies that can bend or adapt to circumstances. In the 17th-18th centuries, flexible began to be used more often in mechanical contexts (e.g., flexible joints, belts) and later in organizational and strategic language to denote adaptability. By the 20th century, flexible had entered common usage in business, education, and daily speech, capturing both physical pliancy and cognitive or strategic adaptability. First known print attestations appear in technical texts describing materials with return properties and in philosophical or political writing discussing adaptable systems. Today, flexible is a staple adjective across domains, signaling the capacity to adjust form or approach with resilience and responsiveness.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "flexible" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "flexible"
-ble sounds
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