4 syllables: op, er, a, ble. Stress on op.
AH-puh-ruh-buhl
/ˈɑpəɹəbəl/
operable is pronounced AH-puh-ruh-buhl (/ˈɑpəɹəbəl/). It has four syllables (op-er-a-ble), with the stress on "op". Operable means capable of being operated or controlled. In technical contexts it can refer to devices, systems, or mechanisms that can be started, used, or run under normal conditions. The term emphasizes practical functionality and control rather than theoretical feasibility, often used in engineering, medical, or legal settings to indicate that something can be operated.
Operable means capable of being operated or controlled. In technical contexts it can refer to devices, systems, or mechanisms that can be started, used, or run under normal conditions. The term emphasizes practical functionality and control rather than theoretical feasibility, often used in engineering, medical, or legal settings to indicate that something can be operated.
- You might apply a hard /t/ or /d/ where a quick /t/ or /d/ is not present, leading to an awkward consonant cluster before -able. - The middle /ə/ can be over-enunciated; keep it as a soft, quick schwa to preserve the flow. - Stress misplacement is common: stressing the second syllable; keep primary stress on the first syllable OP-ə-rə-bəl. - You may run the final syllable into the preceding vowel; aim for a light, separate -əl with a relaxed jaw.
"The newly installed valve is operable and can be tested for leaks."
"The software update made the system operable again after the crash."
"Even in remote conditions, the device remains operable when powered with a stable battery."
You say OP-uh-ruh-buhl with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA US/UK/AU: /ˈɒpərəbəl/. The middle vowel is a schwa, and the final syllable is a soft, unstressed -əl. Tip: keep the vowel sounds short and crisp in the first two syllables, trailing into a light schwa for the last syllable.
Common errors include stressing the second syllable (o-PER-a-ble) and squeezing the middle vowel into a clear /e/ instead of a reduced schwa. Some speakers also pronounce it with two full vowels (ope-ra-ble) instead of the concise OP-ə-rə-bəl. Focus on keeping the second syllable reduced and the final -ble as a light, syllabic ending. IPA cues help: /ˈɒpərəbəl/ emphasizes OP-ə-rə-bəl.
In US/UK/AU, the first syllable carries primary stress: /ˈɒpərəbəl/. In non-rhotic UK accents, you may hear a slightly tighter /ɒ/ and a less pronounced r before the schwa, but the R is often non-rhotic in rapid speech. Australian speakers might centralize the second vowel more, producing a slightly flatter /ə/ and a quicker transition between /p/ and /rə/. Overall, the core rhythm and stress remain stable, with minor vowel quality shifts.
Two main challenges: the sequence of schwa sounds in the middle and the cluster /pər/ leading into /əb/ can feel tight, especially at speed. Additionally, maintaining the primary stress on the first syllable while blending the unreduced vowels in rapid speech demands careful tongue position: lips rounded for the initial /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ and a relaxed jaw for the following /pə/ and /rə/ before the final /bəl/.
Some speakers wonder if the final -able should reduce to -əbəl or remain a clearer -əbəl. The preferred form is a light schwa in the penultimate syllable and a weakly reduced final -əl. In careful diction, you’ll hear OP-ə-rəb-əl, with the final syllable lightly pronounced rather than fully articulated.
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- US: rhotic accent with clear /r/ in the second syllable; maintain /ɹ/ without vowel loss, ensure /ɒ/ in the first syllable. - UK: non-rhotic tendency; /ɒ/ can be slightly shorter, /ə/ more centralized, and /r/ may be less pronounced except before a vowel. - AU: similar to UK but with slightly flatter vowels; keep a rounded lips for /ɒ/ and a soft center vowel /ə/ in the middle; watch final /əl/ as a light, quick sound. IPA: US/UK/AU /ˈɒpərəbəl/; note rhotic vs non-rhotic differences in rhythm and vowel height.
Operable derives from the Latin operari, meaning to work or to operate, augmented by the suffix -able indicating capability. The form entered English through scientific and legal discourse, aligning with other -able adjectives such as available and قابل operating in various technical registries. The root oper- traces to Latin opus, oper-, which evokes work or labor. The sense evolved to describe things that can be operated or managed, distinguishing from hypothetical feasibility to practical usability. The term gained prominence in engineering, medicine, and law as systems and instruments were designed with explicit operability criteria. Early uses often attached to mechanical devices, then expanding to software, medical devices, and permissible legal devices where operational status is a requirement. In contemporary usage, operable emphasizes functional readiness and controllability, with emphasis on real-world operance rather than potential capability alone. First known English attestations appear in the 19th to early 20th centuries in technical manuals and treatises discussing practical usability. Across domains, its meaning narrowed to the capacity for operation under defined conditions, making it a staple in safety, compliance, and performance assessments.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "operable" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "operable"
-ble sounds
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