3 syllables: Laud, a, ble. Stress on Laud.
LAW-duh-buhl
/ˈlɔdəbəl/
Laudable is pronounced LAW-duh-buhl (/ˈlɔdəbəl/). It has three syllables (Laud-a-ble), with the stress on "Laud". Laudable is an adjective meaning deserving praise or commendable. It describes something worthy of approval due to virtue, merit, or admirable quality, often used for actions, efforts, or results that merit recognition.
adjectiveLaudable is an adjective meaning deserving praise or commendable. It describes something worthy of approval due to virtue, merit, or admirable quality, often used for actions, efforts, or results that merit recognition.
How to Pronounce Laudable
"Her laudable efforts to reduce waste earned her community praise."
"The scientist’s laudable commitment to rigorous testing impressed the panel."
"They acknowledged the laudable progress made toward gender equality."
Laudable is pronounced with stress on the first syllable: /ˈlɔː.də.bəl/ in US/UK. Start with the open back rounded vowel in 'law' ([ɔː]), then a schwa in the second syllable, and end with a light 'bəl' where the -ble is pronounced as -bəl. Tip: the sequence is LAW-duh-bull; keep the 'duh' light and the final -ble as a soft, unstressed syllable.
Common mistakes include de-emphasizing the first syllable or turning the second syllable into a full vowel like 'duh-ble' as two strong syllables. Another error is pronouncing the final -able as /-eɪl/ or emphasizing -ble too much. Correction: maintain primary stress on LAU, use a quick schwa in the second syllable, and end with a soft, quick -bəl (/bəl/). Practice with minimal pairs to fix rhythm.
In US and UK, the first syllable uses the broad /ɔː/ or /ɔ/ sound in 'laud' with rhoticity affecting preceding vowels slightly; US typically has rhotic accent but does not alter this word much. Australian English keeps a similar /ɔː/ vowel but with a more centralized vowel quality and a clipped final -ble. Overall, the main variation is vowel quality and vowel reduction in the second syllable, with the same primary stress pattern.
The difficulty lies in the 'laud' onset: the back rounded vowel /ɔː/ followed by a quick schwa in the second syllable can be mispronounced as /lɔː.dɔː.bəl/ or /ˈlaʊ.dæ.bəl/. The final -able often becomes a full syllable; keep it as a light, unstressed /-bəl/. Muscular coordination to switch from a tense open 'laud' to a relaxed, almost silent second vowel is key.
A unique point is the subtle delay or reduction in the second syllable: /ˈlɔː.də.bəl/. Speakers should avoid elongating the second syllable or turning -able into -able as /eɪbəl/. Focus on compact, three-syllable flow with clear primary stress on LAU and a near-silent final /əl/ quality, which often trips non-native speakers when speaking quickly.
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Laudable comes from the Latin laudabilis, from laudare, meaning to praise. The root laud- signifies praise or praise-worthy, and the suffix -abilis forms adjectives meaning capable of being praised or deserving. The term entered English through Latin into Middle French and then English, maintaining its sense of being worthy of praise. The word is historically tied to religious and rhetorical contexts where virtue and meritorious deeds were celebrated. Early attestations appear in medieval and early modern texts discussing virtuous actions, with the sense broadening to secular merit over time. In modern English, laudable often carries a formal or somewhat elevated tone and is commonly employed in academic, professional, or evaluative discourse to commend positive outcomes or ethical behavior.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Laudable" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Laudable" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Laudable"
-ble sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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