suhb-SKREYEB
/səbsˈkɹaɪb/
subscribe is pronounced suhb-SKREYEB (/səbsˈkɹaɪb/). Subscribe means to bind oneself to receive or support a service or publication regularly, typically by signing up or agreeing to ongoing terms. It can also mean to contribute financially or to pledge support for a cause or project. In usage, it often appears with “to,” as in subscribing to a magazine or channel, or as a noun/adjective in compound forms.
Subscribe means to bind oneself to receive or support a service or publication regularly, typically by signing up or agreeing to ongoing terms. It can also mean to contribute financially or to pledge support for a cause or project. In usage, it often appears with “to,” as in subscribing to a magazine or channel, or as a noun/adjective in compound forms.
"She decided to subscribe to the premium streaming service for a year."
"He asked readers to subscribe to the newsletter and turn on notifications."
"The YouTube creator encouraged viewers to subscribe and like the video."
Pronounce it as /səbˈskraɪb/ in US and UK accents, with stress on the second syllable. Start with a weak syllable /sə/ (schwa + s), move to /ˈskr/ cluster, then /aɪb/ final, where /aɪ/ as in pie is followed by /b/. In connected speech, the /ə/ is light, and the /sk/ blends quickly into /skrəɪb/ during flow. Listen to native speech via audio resources for subtle vowel quality.
Common errors: misplacing stress on the first syllable (sub-SCRIBE) or flattening the /ː/ into /ɪ/; pronouncing the vowel as /ɒ/ like ‘sor-’; or pronouncing the final /b/ as an explosive after a long vowel. Correction: keep primary stress on the second syllable: /səˈskraɪb/ and keep the /aɪ/ tense before the final /b/. Use a brief, crisp /b/ at the end without voicing spread into the vowel.
US and UK share /səˈskraɪb/ with rhoticity not affecting the word; Australian English aligns closely with non-rhotic tendencies but still preserves /ɹ/ sound in the /skr-/ cluster when linking. AU and some UK variants may have a slightly longer /ə/ in the first syllable and a crisper /r/ or post-vocalic linking in rapid speech. Core system remains /səˈskraɪb/ with final /b/.
Because of the consonant cluster /skr/ immediately after a weak initial syllable, and the diphthong /aɪ/ followed by /b/. The second-syllable stress requires a sharper onset, which can clash with the preceding schwa. Native-like rhythm requires delaying the /s/ release slightly to land on /skr/ cleanly, and keeping the /aɪ/ tight before the final /b/ without voicing into the end.
The letters 'scribe' may cue a slightly different pronunciation, but in subscribe the 'scribe' portion is /skraɪb/, where 'scribe' is pronounced like 'scrib e' in contexts emphasizing spelling, but here the /e/ is not pronounced; it ends with the /b/. This can trip learners who expect /skrɪb/ or /skrɪbs/. Focus on the final /aɪb/ and the preconsonant /sk/ cluster to resolve this.
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Subscribe traces back to Latin sub-
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Help others use "subscribe" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "subscribe" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "subscribe" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "subscribe"
-ibe sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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