5 syllables: In, ev, i, ta, ble. Stress on ev.
in-EV-uh-tuh-buhl
/ˌɪˈnɛvətəbəl/
Inevitable is pronounced in-EV-uh-tuh-buhl (/ˌɪˈnɛvətəbəl/). It has five syllables (In-ev-i-ta-ble), with the stress on "ev". Inevitable is an adjective meaning certain to happen; unavoidable. It describes events or outcomes that, given the current circumstances, are destined to occur, leaving little or no possibility of being prevented. The term carries a formal tone and is commonly used in analytical or predictive contexts.
nounInevitable is an adjective meaning certain to happen; unavoidable. It describes events or outcomes that, given the current circumstances, are destined to occur, leaving little or no possibility of being prevented. The term carries a formal tone and is commonly used in analytical or predictive contexts.
"The collapse of the building seemed inevitable after days of neglect."
"In chess, a win felt inevitable once he secured the decisive advantage."
"With climate trends, some consequences are nearly inevitable if action isn’t taken."
Pronounce as /ˌɪnˈɛvɪtəbəl/ in US/UK; primary stress on the second syllable 'EV'. Start with a short 'ih' sound, then 'nev' with a clear 'e' as in 'bed', followed by 'i' as in 'kit', a 'tuh' schwa, and finish with 'bul' where the 'l' is light. Listen for steady air flow and a crisp /t/.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress (say-ing -ineVITable), slurring the -ta- into -tə- too weakly, and mispronouncing the final -ble as -bul or -bel. Focus on the secondary stress pattern and keep the /t/ clear rather than flapping it in American casual speech. Ensure the final syllable has a soft -əl. IPA reminders: /ˌɪnˈɛvɪtəbl/.
In US English you’ll hear /ˌɪnˈɛvɪtəbl/ with strong /t/ and a rhotic R only where the following vowel requires. UK typically /ˌɪnˈevɪtəbl/ with a less rhotacized approach and tighter vowel quality; AU mirrors UK with a slightly broader intonation and clear /t/.
Two main challenges: the sequence /ˌɪnˈɛvɪtəbl/ stacks three short vowels with a mid-stress, and the /t/ can be mis-timed or flapped in casual American speech. The final -ble can reduce to a light /əl/ rather than a clear /bl/. Practice sustaining the sequence with even rhythm and a crisp /t/.
The word’s rhythm leans on the -ev- syllable; ensure the secondary stress falls on -ev- and keep the -ta- syllable light. The -ble ends with an /əl/ that can blur if you don’t relax the jaw and let air flow. Think: in-EV-i-ta-ble, with a gentle trailing /əl/.
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Inevitable derives from the Latin inevitabilis, formed from in- (not) + evādibilis (capable of being approached or reached). Its root evādibilis comes from evadere (to go out, to escape) with the sense of something that cannot be escaped or avoided. The word entered English through a path of Latin influence in the medieval and early modern periods, aligning with the scholarly and rhetorical register of the time. The form evolved to the current -able suffix, which marks capability or potential across Romance languages and has been reanalyzed into English as indicating a condition that must occur. The first known uses appear in scholarly and legal texts where outcomes were described as unavoidable or inexorable, and the sense broadened to general forecastability in modern usage. The word’s nuance has often carried a slightly formal or philosophical tone, implying inevitability in natural, moral, or logical dimensions rather than mere likelihood. Over time, it’s common in both spoken and written English, especially in debates around fate, probability, and risk assessment.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Inevitable" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Inevitable"
-ble sounds
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