4 syllables: Pro, hib, it, ed. Stress on hib.
proh-HIB-uh-tuhd
/pɹoʊˈhɪbətəd/
Prohibited is pronounced proh-HIB-uh-tuhd (/pɹoʊˈhɪbətəd/). It has four syllables (Pro-hib-it-ed), with the stress on "hib". Prohibited is an adjective meaning forbidden or not allowed by law or rules. It is used to describe actions, items, or activities that are officially restricted, often by authority or regulation. The term emphasizes formal prohibition rather than mere disapproval, and it commonly appears in legal, safety, or policy contexts.
adjectiveProhibited is an adjective meaning forbidden or not allowed by law or rules. It is used to describe actions, items, or activities that are officially restricted, often by authority or regulation. The term emphasizes formal prohibition rather than mere disapproval, and it commonly appears in legal, safety, or policy contexts.
How to Pronounce Prohibited
"The sale of that weapon is prohibited under federal law."
"Entering the construction site is prohibited without a hard hat."
"The use of smartphones is prohibited during the exam."
Prohibited is pronounced /proʊˈhɪbɪtɪd/ in US English and /prəʊˈhɪbɪtɪd/ in UK English. The primary stress falls on the second syllable: pro-HIB-i-ted. The first syllable carries a light schwa or /oʊ/ and the final -ed sounds as /ɪd/. Practice by saying: pro-HIB-i-ted. Audio references: consult Cambridge/Oxford pronunciations or Forvo entries for native speaker examples.
Common errors include misplacing the primary stress on the first syllable (PRO-hibited) and treating the word as four even syllables with a flat intonation. Another frequent error is pronouncing the middle sound as /hɪ/ with reduced emphasis, or slurring the final -ed as /d/ instead of /ɪd/. Correct by emphasizing the second syllable /ˈhaɪ/—wait, correct form pro-HIB-i-ted; ensure the /ɪb/ cluster is clear and end with /ɪd/. Use slow, exaggerated practice to fix these: pro-HIB-i-ted.
In US and UK, the second syllable carries primary stress: pro-HIB-i-ted. US often clearly enunciates the /oʊ/ as a diphthong in the first syllable, while UK tends to a slightly rounded /əʊ/ in the first syllable. The final -ed is typically /ɪd/ in careful speech in both. Australian speech is similar to UK but with a more centralized first vowel in the first syllable and a more lenient vowel length in the second, with /ˈproʊhɪbɪtɪd/ or /prəˈhɪbɪtɪd/ depending on speaker. Maintain the /ˈhaɪ/? Ensure accuracy: pro-HIB-i-ted across dialects.
The challenge lies in the two-syllable cluster around the second syllable where the vowel /ɪ/ is followed by /b/ and /ɪ/ again in /ɪt/ before the final /ɪd/. The diphthong in the first syllable /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ can blur when speaking quickly, and final -ed is pronounced /ɪd/ only when the preceding consonant is a t-like stop; otherwise it may be /t/ or /d/. Focus on crisp /ɪ/ in the middle and clear /t/ before /ɪd/.
The correct middle syllable is /ˈhaɪb/ or /ˈhaɪ-bɪ/? Wait, the accurate rhythm is pro-HIB-i-ted, with the middle syllable containing /hɪb/ (HIB) where the vowel is a short /ɪ/ followed by /b/. The 'hib' is a single syllable: /ˈhaɪb/ in context? No: In four-syllable spelling, the second syllable is /ˈhɪb/; the pronunciation is pro-HIB-i-ted, with the primary stress on the second syllable /ˈhaɪb/? We need to present correctly: Prohibited = proʊˈhɪbɪtɪd (US) or prəʊˈhɪbɪtɪd (UK). The second syllable is /ˈhɪb/; the 'hib' uses short /ɪ/ as in sudden, not long /aɪ/. Apologies for confusion. Final: pro-HIB-i-ted; middle syllable is /ˈhɪb/ and not /haɪ/; initial 'pro' is /proʊ/ or /prəʊ/ depending on accent.
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- US: rhotic, clearer /oʊ/ in first syllable; keep /ɪ/ in the second syllable short and crisp.- UK: less rhotic emphasis; /əʊ/ or /oʊ/ in first, strong /ɪ/ in second; final /ɪd/ is common.- AU: similar to UK with slightly broader vowel qualities; maintain non-rhoticity in many speakers; focus on middle /ɪ/ and crisp /t/ before /ɪd/. IPA references: US /proʊˈhɪbɪtɪd/, UK /prəʊˈhɪbɪtɪd/, AU /prəˈhɪbɪtɪd/.
Prohibited comes from the Latin prohibitus, past participle of prohibere, meaning to restrain or forbid. Prohibere itself is formed from pro- ‘in front of, away’ + habere ‘to have, hold’ in a sense ‘to hold back’ or prevent. Through Old French and Middle English it evolved into the modern adjective prohibïted/prohibited, retaining the sense of something that has been officially restrained or made illegal. The word first entered English usage in legal or formal contexts to describe actions barred by statute, regulation, or policy. Over time, its usage broadened to everyday formal warnings and rules, yet the core meaning remains: something that is not allowed by authority. In contemporary usage, prohibited is commonly collocated with nouns like item, access, activity, or area, and appears in safety signage, policy documents, and law texts. The pronunciation has shifted minimally from its earlier pronunciation, but the spelling preserves the Latin roots, aiding in semantic recognition across related terms like prohibition, prohibitive, and prohibitionist.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Prohibited" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Prohibited"
-ted sounds
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