/pɹoʊˈhɪbət/
Say it backProhibit is a verb meaning to forbid or effectively prevent something by law or rule. It typically appears in formal or official contexts, and can take various forms (prohibits, prohibiting, prohibition). The core idea is to prevent a certain action or behavior from taking place, often backed by authority or sanction.
"The city council prohibits parking on weekends."
"Certain substances are prohibited by international agreements."
"The school prohibits cell phone use during class to minimize distractions."
Pronounce as pro-HIB-it with the stress on the second syllable: /prəˈhɪbɪt/ (US) or /prəˈhɪbɪt/ (UK/AU). Start with a voiced bilabial stop /p/ followed quickly by /r/ in a consonant cluster. The middle vowel is a lax /ɪ/ in an unstressed position, and the final syllable has a short /ɪ/ ending with /t/. Tip: keep the /h/ breathy but light, avoid turning the second syllable into /haɪ/.”,
Two common errors: 1) Misplacing the stress as PRO-hi-bit or pro-HIB-it with incorrect syllable emphasis. 2) Slurring the /h/ or turning /ɪ/ into a more rounded vowel like /iː/. Correction: emphasize the /ˈhaɪ/? No—correct syllable is /ˈhɪb/ in the second syllable; keep the /h/ light and ensure the /ɪ/ is short. Practice with the sequence /prəˈhɪbɪt/ and isolate the second syllable: /ˈhɪb/; use minimal pairs to stabilize rhythm.
In US, the second syllable has clear /ɪ/ with rhotic influence in connected speech; final /t/ is released strongly. UK/AU tend toward a slightly more clipped /ə/ in the first syllable, but still stress the second syllable /ˈhɪbɪt/. Australians may have a more centralized first syllable, but maintain the /ˈhɪbɪt/ pattern. Overall the /pr/ onset and /t/ ending are consistent; the main variation is vowel quality and rhythm.
Because the word places the primary stress on the second syllable, which can throw off speakers who expect English stress patterns on the first syllable. The /pr/ cluster in onset is tight and requires precise aspiration. The middle /ɪ/ in /ˈhɪ/ must be brief and crisp, and the /t/ at the end can be unreleased or released, depending on context. The combination of a prefix-like /pro-/ and a separate /hibit/ can tempt vowel lengthening or consonant blending if not practiced.
Prohibit is pronounced /prəˈhɪbɪt/. The main points: 1) Primary stress on the second syllable; 2) Clear /pr/ onset with a light /r/ following; 3) Short, lax /ɪ/ in the middle; 4) Final /t/ with a crisp release if in careful speech. Keep the tongue blade near the alveolar ridge for /t/ and do not overshoot the /b/ by moving lips too far apart before the /ɪ/. This word rewards deliberate, crisp articulation.
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Prohibit comes from the Latin prohibere, formed from pro- ‘before’ + ab-hold/hinder (from tenere). The Latin verb prohibere originally meant to hinder from before, to prevent, or to restrain. In medieval Latin it appeared as prohibere, and into Old French as prohiber, and eventually into English as prohibit. The spelling with -hibit reflects a traditional Latin stem related to ‘hold’ (habere, there is some overlap with habere and in prohibere the form is pro-hinde-). The early English usage often related to forbidding by law or authority. Over time, prohibit broadened to include not just legal bans but formal rules or guidelines in various institutions and contexts. By the 16th–18th centuries, prohibit was established as the precise formal term for forbidding actions, and it remains common in legal, regulatory, and policy language today.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "prohibit" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "prohibit" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "prohibit"
-mit sounds
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