4 syllables: Ir, ri, ta, ble. Stress on Ir.
IR-uh-tuh-buhl
/ˈɪɹətəbəl/
Irritable is pronounced IR-uh-tuh-buhl (/ˈɪɹətəbəl/). It has four syllables (Ir-ri-ta-ble), with the stress on "Ir". Irritable is an adjective describing a person who becomes easily annoyed or cross, often with a tendency to react emotionally to minor irritants. It can also describe a clinical condition where irritability is prominent. The term conveys low tolerance, restlessness, and a short, edgy mood. Commonly used in medical or everyday contexts to describe temperament or symptoms.
adjectiveIrritable is an adjective describing a person who becomes easily annoyed or cross, often with a tendency to react emotionally to minor irritants. It can also describe a clinical condition where irritability is prominent. The term conveys low tolerance, restlessness, and a short, edgy mood. Commonly used in medical or everyday contexts to describe temperament or symptoms.
"Her boss was irritable after a long meeting and snapped at anyone who spoke."
"Children can be irritable when they’re tired or hungry."
"The patient reported irritability as a side effect of the medication."
Pronounced IR-ih-tuh-buhl with three syllables. Primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈɪr.ɪ.tə.bəl/ (US/UK). In fast speech, you may hear a reduced middle vowel: /ˈɪr.ɪ.tə.bəl/; ensure the /r/ is rhotacized in US and in many accents. Mouth position: start with a light, quick /ɪ/ in the first syllable, then a relaxed schwa-like /ə/ in the third, finishing with /bəl/; keep the b sound crisp. Audio reference: you’ll find it pronounced with the first syllable strongest, and the final syllable as a soft, barely stressed -bəl.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress on the second syllable (i-RI-ta-ble). 2) Slurring the middle vowel into a full /i/ or /e/ (IR-ih-TAH-bul instead of IR-ih-tuh-buhl). 3) Dropping the final /l/ or turning it into a /w/ or /v/ sound. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable, use a clear /tə/ for the middle, and finish with a clean /bəl/ where /l/ is light. Practice with minimal pairs: IR-ih-tuh-buhl vs IR-ee-tuh-buhl helps fix the middle vowel.
US: /ˈɪr.ɪ.tə.bəl/ with rhotic /ɹ/ in American speech; mid central schwa in the second syllable can be reduced. UK: /ˈɪr.ɪ.tə.bəl/ similar but less rhotic influence; some speakers may flatten vowels slightly. AU: /ˈɪɾ.ɪ.tə.bəl/ with flapped /ɾ/ in some vowels in rapid speech, and smoother vowels; final /əl/ may sound lighter with non-rhotic tendencies in some contexts. Pay attention to /ɹ/ vs. no rhoticity and the quality of /ɪ/ in the first syllable.
Two main challenges: 1) The multi-syllabic stress pattern with a strong initial stress and a subsequent light vowel sequence can cause rhythm irregularity. 2) The unstressed middle syllable often reduces to a schwa, which can lead to an indistinct second syllable if you’re not careful. Additionally, the final -ble ending often yields a light /əl/ or /bəl/, which can be tricky if you’re not practicing the final consonant cluster clearly. IPA cues: /ˈɪr.ɪ.tə.bəl/ requires crisp /t/ and a clear /bəl/ ending.
A unique challenge is keeping the sequence IR-ri-ta-ble with correct reduction in the middle syllable. Many learners over-enunciate the second syllable; keep it quick and light: /ɪr.ɪ/ rather than full /ɪəri/. The final syllable must be clearly /bəl/ rather than /bɫ/ or dropping the /l/. Visualize it as three stable beats: IR (clear start), i (short, quick), ta (light, reduced), ble (crisp end). This helps avoid a sing-song or overly elongated middle vowels.
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US: rhotic /ɹ/ in /ˈɪɹ.ɪ.tə.bəl/ with a slightly tighter jaw for the initial /ɹ/; vowel quality tends to be shorter and tenser. UK: non-rhotic tendencies for /ɹ/ in some speakers; syllables may sound more centralized and slightly stronger on the first /ɪ/. AU: more relaxed jaw and a quicker, more clipped middle syllable; possible flap /ɾ/ in informal speech, especially in connected speech. IPA cues: US /ˈɪɹ.ɪ.tə.bəl/; UK /ˈɪ.ɪ.tə.bəl/ (less rhotic); AU /ˈɪɾ.ɪ.tə.bəl/ in casual speech. Use: pair vowels with a neutral schwa in the middle syllable. Practice with minimal pairs to sharpen accent differences: IR-r/ IRE/ IRE-ble.
Irritable comes from the Latin irritabilis, from irritare ‘to excite, provoke, irritate,’ based on irritus ‘to irritate, rouse, excite.’ The form entered English in the late 15th to early 16th centuries, originally carrying notions of provoking anger or annoyance. Over time, irritability broadened to describe a mood state characterized by quickness to anger or willingness to be annoyed. The core sense remains tied to stimulation and responsiveness of the nervous system to minor provocations. In medical contexts, irritability has extended to describe heightened sensitivity and responsiveness to stimuli (emotionally or physically), seen in conditions like irritability as a symptom of various disorders. Modern usage often contrasts a temperament (short temper) with transient state (being irritable due to tiredness or stress). First known use appears in early modern English medical or psychological texts, reflecting its descriptive utility for mood and temperament. The word aligns with similar formations: irritate (to provoke), irritability (state), irritable (adjective).
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Words that rhyme with "Irritable"
-ar) sounds
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