4 syllables: in, cap, a, ble. Stress on cap.
in-KAY-puh-buhl
/ˌɪˈnkeɪpəbəl/
incapable is pronounced in-KAY-puh-buhl (/ˌɪˈnkeɪpəbəl/). It has four syllables (in-cap-a-ble), with the stress on "cap". Incapable describes someone or something lacking ability or power to perform a function or task. It also can indicate a limitation in capability due to physical, mental, or situational factors. The term is formal to neutral in tone, often found in written or analytical contexts rather than casual speech.
Incapable describes someone or something lacking ability or power to perform a function or task. It also can indicate a limitation in capability due to physical, mental, or situational factors. The term is formal to neutral in tone, often found in written or analytical contexts rather than casual speech.
"She felt incapable of finishing the marathon after her injury."
"The device proved incapable of handling the new software updates."
"Researchers concluded that the system was incapable of autonomous decision-making."
Pronounce as in-CA-pab-le with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US/UK/AU: ɪnˈkeɪpəbəl. Start with /ɪ/ as in 'kit', then /n/; move to /ˈkeɪ/ as in 'cake', followed by /pə/ (unstressed schwa) and end with /bəl/ (b + schwa + l). Keep the final -ble light and quick. Audio reference: listen to native speakers pronouncing 'incapable' in context on Pronounce or Forvo for authentic rhythm.
Common errors include misplacing stress (trying to stress the first syllable), pronouncing the middle vowel as a full /eɪ/ or /iː/ instead of /eɪ/, and overpronouncing the final -ble as /bəl/ with extra vowel length. Correct by: keeping stress on the second syllable /ˈkeɪ/; use /eɪ/ for the 'cape' part rather than a long /iː/; and shorten the ending to /bəl/ with a quick, light release. Practice with minimal pairs to lock the rhythm: in-CAY-pə-bəl.
US/UK/AU share the same core /ɪnˈkeɪpəbəl/ pattern, but rhotics and vowel quality differ slightly. US tends to rhoticize /r/ only in non-rhotic contexts; the /ɪ/ and /ə/ vowels are often shorter in careful speech in UK and AU; Australian may exhibit a more centralized /ə/ and a slightly broader /æ/ in some speakers. Overall, the primary stress remains on the second syllable, with clear /keɪ/. Listening to region-specific corpora or pronunciation guides helps hear subtle differences.
The main challenges are the sequence of stressed syllables and the 'cape' vowel blend /keɪ/ combined with a light, unstressed ending /pəbəl/. Many learners misplace stress, stretch the final -ble to /əl/ too long, or mispronounce /keɪ/ as /kiː/ or /kæ/. Focus on maintaining primary stress on the second syllable, delivering /keɪ/ clearly, then a quick, neutral /pəbəl/ ending. IPA cues help: /ɪnˈkeɪpəbəl/.
A unique detail is the compact /pə/ in the second half, where the /ə/ is a reduced schwa that should not become a full vowel like /əː/ or /æ/. The sequence /pə/ bridges /keɪ/ and /bəl/ smoothly; avoid inserting additional vowel length between /p/ and /ə/. Practicing with a slow pace and then increasing tempo helps you keep the /ə/ from becoming a full syllable.
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Incapable comes from the prefix in- meaning not, + capable, which itself derives from Old French capable (capable, able), from Latin capābilis meaning able to take, seize, or attain. The Latin root cap- relates to taking or grasping, as in capable, capacity, and capable’s sense of potential. The negative prefix in- transitioned through Old French and Middle English to produce incap able in English usage by the 15th–16th centuries. Historically, capable carried the sense of being able to hold or grasp, while incap able broadened to denote lacking ability, either physically, mentally, or functionally. The word matured in formal registers, often appearing in legal, philosophical, or clinical contexts to describe limitations or constraints. The semantic shift reflects a movement from general capability to a precise description of an absence of capability, with contemporary uses spanning medical, technical, and social discussions. First known uses in English trace back to early modern texts where “in-” was used productively to negate adjectives rooted in Latin or French loanwords. Over time, incap able has stayed relatively stable in meaning but expanded to cover more nuanced contexts where power, skill, or capacity is deficient or non-existent, often implying external factors or intrinsic limitations.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "incapable" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "incapable"
-ble sounds
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