uhn-KWES-chuh-nuh-buhl
/ənˈkwɛstʃənəbəl/
unquestionable is pronounced uhn-KWES-chuh-nuh-buhl (/ənˈkwɛstʃənəbəl/). unquestionable means not open to question or doubt; clearly true or certain. The term conveys high confidence or inevitability, often used to assert a fact or conclusion beyond dispute. It carries formal or emphatic tone and is common in academic, legal, and persuasive contexts.
unquestionable means not open to question or doubt; clearly true or certain. The term conveys high confidence or inevitability, often used to assert a fact or conclusion beyond dispute. It carries formal or emphatic tone and is common in academic, legal, and persuasive contexts.
- You often misplace the primary stress on the first syllable (un-). Place primary stress on the second syllable: un-QUES-tion-a-ble. - The /kw/ cluster; some learners separate it as /k w/ or confuse with /w/ only. Practice the /kw/ blend as a single rounded onset. - The 'tion' suffix pronounced as /tʃə.nə/ is tricky; ensure a swift /tʃ/ followed by a light /ə/ and /nə/ rather than a full /ʃən/ or /tɪən/. - The final /bəl/ should be a light, quick ending; avoid a heavy /l/ sound that lengthens the word.
"The scientist’s data provides unquestionable evidence of a trend."
"Her mastery of the language is almost unquestionable after years of study."
"The referee’s call was deemed unquestionable by the officials."
Pronounced as /ˌənˈkwes.tʃə.nə.bəl/. The primary stress falls on the second syllable in most pronunciations: un-QUES-tion-a-ble, with the weak forms for unstressed syllables. The key sounds are the /kw/ cluster after the initial /n/ and the /tʃə/ sound in the “tion” part. Your mouth should start with a neutral /ə/ before the stressed /ˈkwes/; then the /tʃ/ blends into /ə/ before /nə/ and finally /bəl/. Listening and mimicking native speech will help lock the rhythm.
Common errors include: misplacing stress (saying un-QUES-tionable with wrong emphasis), mispronouncing the /kw/ as /k/ or /w/ separately, and misarticulating the /tʃ/ in “tion” as /t/ or /ʃ/. Correct by: placing primary stress on the second syllable and practicing the /kw/ cluster as a single, rounded consonant blend; ensuring the /tʃ/ is a quick, palatal affricate; finishing with a light /bəl/ where the final /əl/ is a schwa-like syllable.
US: rhotic /r/ is not present in this word; the /əl/ ending is light. UK: similar rhythm, but /ɒ/ or /ə/ variants may appear in unstressed positions; often crisper /tʃə/ sequence. AU: vowels may be closer to /ə/ with slightly broader vowels; tempo may be slower and more rounded. Across all, the main differences revolve around vowel quality in the unstressed syllables and the treatment of the /ə/ in the final syllable.
The difficulty lies in the long, multi-syllabic structure with a stressed /ˈkwes/ cluster and a tricky 'tion' sequence /tʃə.nə/. The /w/ following /k/ forms a /kw/ digraph, which can be easy to mispronounce as /k/ or /w/ separately. Additionally, the final /ə.bəl/ has a subtle schwa and a light /l/ that can get swallowed when speaking quickly. Proper articulation requires limiting spoon-feet and maintaining even syllable length.
No, every letter contributes to the sound in the overall pronunciation. The sequence ‘tion’ yields /tʃə.nə/ with the /n/ clearly pronounced; there is no silent letter in the standard pronunciation. Common misperception may involve swallowing the /ə/ or /n/ in informal speech, but careful enunciation maintains each phoneme: /ˌənˈkwes.tʃə.nə.bəl/.
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- US: emphasize /ˈkwes/ with a clear /kw/ blend; final syllable is light; rhoticity not relevant here. - UK: similar pattern; may have crisper /tʃənə/ transition; keep /ə/ neutral and avoid over-articulation of the 'tion' part. - AU: vowels in unstressed syllables may be slightly more centralized; keep the /ə/ subdued and smooth; maintain even tempo. - IPA references: /ˌənˈkwes.tʃə.nə.bəl/; note the /kw/, /tʃ/ and the schwa sounds in unstressed syllables.
unquestionable traces its roots to the prefix un- (not) + question (a formal inquiry or doubt) + -able (capable of or susceptible to). The word question derives from Old FrenchQuestion, from Latin quaestio, from quaerere ‘to seek, ask’. The sense developed in English through Middle English as something that cannot be questioned, i.e., beyond doubt or dispute. By the 17th century, unquestionable appears in legal and rhetorical contexts to denote statements or proofs that are not open to challenge, reinforcing certainty. The form “un- + question + -able” preserves the idea of negating doubt by presenting an outcome or conclusion that would withstand questioning. First known uses appear in scholastic and legal prose, with escalating emphasis in the 18th and 19th centuries as scientific and judicial discourse demanded unequivocal assertions. In modern usage, it frequently appears in persuasive writing, science communication, journalism, and critical discussions where certainty is attributed to data, logic, or authority.
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Words that rhyme with "unquestionable"
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