6 syllables: In, de, fat, i, ga, ble. Stress on fat.
in-dif-AT-ig-uh-buhl
/ˌɪndɪˈfætɪɡəbəl/
Indefatigable is pronounced in-dif-AT-ig-uh-buhl (/ˌɪndɪˈfætɪɡəbəl/). It has six syllables (In-de-fat-i-ga-ble), with the stress on "fat". Indefatigable is an adjective describing someone tireless and persisting without giving up. It conveys relentless energy and sustained effort, especially in the face of difficulty. In formal or literary contexts, it highlights admirable perseverance and extraordinary stamina.
nounIndefatigable is an adjective describing someone tireless and persisting without giving up. It conveys relentless energy and sustained effort, especially in the face of difficulty. In formal or literary contexts, it highlights admirable perseverance and extraordinary stamina.
How to Pronounce Indefatigable
"Her indefatigable charity work earned the admiration of the community."
"Despite setbacks, the indefatigable researcher continued the experiment until success."
"The team's indefatigable spirit kept them training day after day."
Indefatigable is pronounced in-de-FAT-i-ga-ble, with primary stress on FAT. IPA: US /ˌɪn.dɪˈfæ.tɪ.ɡə.bəl/, UK /ˌɪn.dɪˈfæt.ɪ.ɡə.bəl/, AU /ˌɪn.dɪˈfæt.ɪ.ɡə.bəl/. Start with /ɪ/ in the first syllable, then /dɪ/; the key is a crisp /ˈfæ/ in the third syllable and a full /ɡə/ before the final /bəl/. Practice: focus on the /t/ as a light touch rather than a strong plosive; the rhythm is four primary beats before the final -ble.
Common mistakes include: 1) misplacing stress, trying to emphasize the wrong syllable (putting pressure on IN- or a later syllable); 2) mispronouncing the /æ/ as /e/ or /ə/ in /fæ/; 3) truncating the final -ble or dropping the -ble ending. Correction: keep the fourth syllable as FAT with clear /æ/; ensure the -ble is pronounced as /bəl/ with a light, quick schwa: /-ɡə.bəl/. Slow down the rhythm initially to secure the four-stress pattern.
US tends to light the /d/ and maintain a clear /ɪ/ in the first syllable with /ˌɪn.dɪˈfæ.tɪ.ɡə.bəl/; UK usually keeps a slightly stronger /ɪ/ and may reduce /ɪ/ to a shorter vowel in rapid speech: /ˌɪn.dɪˈfæt.ɪ.ɡə.bəl/. AU often vowels more open in the first unstressed syllables and may pronounce /ɪ/ as a closer /i/; rhoticity differs, but in non-rhotic varieties the /ɹ/ is not pronounced. The main stress remains near FAT across accents.
The difficulty comes from multi-syllabic length, multiple unstressed syllables, and the challenging cluster -fatiga-. The /ˌɪn.dɪˈfæ.tɪ.ɡə.bəl/ sequence requires careful articulation of /fæ/ and /ɡə/ before a final /bəl/. Tip: practice the /t/ flapped- or released lightly, ensuring the /ɡ/ is a hard stop, not a soft /dʒ/ sound. Also maintain the two primary consonant stacks: -n-d- at the start and -g- before -ble.
One unique aspect is maintaining four clear syllabic beats with a distinct secondary support around the middle where -fat- sits, and ensuring the final -ble is not silent. The combination of a strong /æ/ in FAT and the following /ɪ/ before the /ɡ/ requires careful mouth positioning. Mouth shape shifts from the front vowels in the first two syllables to a slightly open mid vowel in the fourth. Focus on the sequence /fæ.tɪ.ɡə/ before the final /bəl/.
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- US: emphasize non-rhotic or rhotic tendencies; keep /r/ absent in non-rhotic speech; ensure crisp /ɡ/ before -ə; IPA: /ˌɪn.dɪˈfæ.tɪ.ɡə.bəl/. - UK: slightly heavier /t/ release and a more precise /æ/; keep /ɡ/ hard before -ə/. IPA: /ˌɪn.dɪˈfæt.ɪ.ɡə.bəl/. - AU: more open vowels inunstressed syllables; keep rhythm steady and avoid shrinking the -ble; IPA: /ˌɪn.dɪˈfæt.ɪ.ɡə.bəl/. Common to all: maintain the FAT stress and the /-ə/ before /bəl/.
Indefatigable comes from the medieval Latin indefatigabilis, formed from in-not + fatigabilis- capable of being fatigued, from fatigare to tire, with the typical French/Latin path into English. The form traveled through Old French as indefatigable and dropped the final -le to fit English adjectives by the 16th–17th centuries, gaining prominence in Romantic and Victorian prose to describe heroic, tireless persons. The stem fatig- appears in fatigue, and the prefix in- functions as a negator, signaling not able to be fatigued. First known use in English can be traced to the 16th century, but it became more common in the 18th–19th centuries with increased interest in moral exemplars and perseverance narratives. Today it often appears in formal, elevated registers and literary criticism as a precise descriptor of extraordinary stamina.
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Words that rhyme with "Indefatigable"
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