3 syllables: Gul, li, ble. Stress on Gul.
GUHL-uh-buhl
/ˈɡʌləbəl/
Gullible is pronounced GUHL-uh-buhl (/ˈɡʌləbəl/). It has three syllables (Gul-li-ble), with the stress on "Gul". Gullible is an adjective describing a person who is easily deceived or persuaded, often due to naivety or trust. It implies a tendency to accept what is told without sufficient skepticism or evidence. The term commonly appears in cautionary, humorous, or critical contexts about credulity.
adjectiveGullible is an adjective describing a person who is easily deceived or persuaded, often due to naivety or trust. It implies a tendency to accept what is told without sufficient skepticism or evidence. The term commonly appears in cautionary, humorous, or critical contexts about credulity.
- 2-3 phonetic challenges: ensure first syllable uses the short /ʌ/ (not /ʌː/ or /ə/), keep the middle /ɪ/ short and unstressed, avoid pronouncing final -ble as full syllable. - Switch between /ɪ/ and /ə/ quickly; do not drag the middle vowel. - Do not overly enunciate -ble; keep it light to preserve natural rhythm. - Correction tips: practice with minimal pairs like 'gul' vs 'gull' and use a controlled release for /bəl/.- Use breathing to prevent rushed first syllable; aim for 0.5-0.8 seconds per syllable.
How to Pronounce Gullible
"Despite knowing the scam, she remained gullible enough to share her banking details."
"The gullible tourist believed the roadside souvenir seller’s outrageous claims."
"Parents worry that gullible children might fall for online misinformation."
Gullible is pronounced with the primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈɡʌl.ɪ.bəl/ in US and UK, with a typical Australian variant /ˈɡʌl.ɪ.bəl/. Begin with the dʒ? No; start with a hard g followed by the short u as in 'gut,' then a light schwa-ish second syllable 'li,' and finish with a soft 'bəl' where the 'ble' is unstressed. Imagine saying 'GUL-ih-bul' with the middle syllable slightly lighter than the first.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., /ˈɡɪl.əbəl/), using a full 'oo' sound instead of the short /ʌ/ in the first syllable, and pronouncing the final -ble as a separate syllable with a strong 'ee' or 'ee-yoo' sound. Correct by: keeping first syllable as 'gul' with /ʌ/; reducing the middle to a quick /lɪ/; and making the final /bəl/ a light, unstressed ending. Practice by saying 'GUL-lih-bəl' smoothly in one breath.
US: /ˈɡʌl.ɪ.bəl/ with rhoticity; UK: /ˈɡʌl.ɪ.bəl/ also non-rhotic in some tongue positions but often similar; AU: /ˈɡʌl.ɪ.bəl/ with a very light, quick final -ble. Differences are subtle: vowel quality in /ʌ/ can be a darker vowel in US, slightly closer in UK, and Australian tends to be more centralized. Overall the rhythm stays strong on the first syllable.
The challenge lies in the short /ʌ/ in the first syllable and the light, quick transition to the /ɪ/ in the second, followed by a soft /bəl/ ending. The sequence requires precise timing and minimal vowel reduction between syllables to avoid a drawn-out or exaggerated -ible. Articulators must stay relaxed to prevent a heavy lip rounding that can blur the /ʌ/ and /ɪ/ distinctions.
A distinctive feature is maintaining a crisp, short /ʌ/ in the first syllable while not over-reducing the /ɪ/ in the second. This keeps the word from sounding like 'gull-uh-bull' or 'gul-EE-bull.' Aim for a quick, clean transition: /ˈɡʌl.ɪ.bəl/ with a barely audible glide before the final /bəl/.
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- US: focus on a slightly broader /ʌ/; ensure rhoticity remains, with a crisp /l/ in the middle. - UK: keep the same /ˈɡʌl.ɪ.bəl/ pattern; emphasize the light, non-rhotic end in quieter speech. - AU: maintain a compact first syllable; the final -ble rarely has a hard ei; keep it as /bəl/ with a light closing.”,
Gullible comes from the noun gull, meaning a person who is easily deceived, dating back to the 16th century. The root gull traces to the Middle English word gueot, with broader Germanic connections in Old Norse and Dutch where deception or trickery is implied. By the 19th century, gullible had solidified as an adjective describing someone susceptible to being duped, often in humorous or pejorative contexts. The sense expanded from “ready to be fooled” to “easily convinced,” reflecting social judgments about credulity and critical thinking. Its figurative use appears in satirical and literary works as a critique of gullibility in crowds and individuals, and today it remains a common descriptor in both everyday speech and media discourse, frequently paired with warnings about scams or misinformation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Gullible" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Gullible"
-ble sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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