uhn-SOO-tuh-buhl
/əˈnsutəbəl/
unsuitable is pronounced uhn-SOO-tuh-buhl (/əˈnsutəbəl/). Unsuitable means not appropriate or proper for a given purpose or situation. It describes something lacking suitability, fitness, or relevance, often implying that it fails to meet required standards. In usage, it characterizes a choice, action, or condition that does not fit the intended use or context.
Unsuitable means not appropriate or proper for a given purpose or situation. It describes something lacking suitability, fitness, or relevance, often implying that it fails to meet required standards. In usage, it characterizes a choice, action, or condition that does not fit the intended use or context.
"The outfit was unsuitable for the formal gala and she had to change."
"His qualifications were unsuitable for the job, so they offered him a different role."
"Using a low-quality charger is unsuitable and can damage the device."
/ˌənˈsuːtəbl/ (US/UK); stress pattern is off-then-stress on the second syllable: un-SUIT-a-ble. Start with a schwa or a light 'uh,' move into a long 'oo' as in 'suit,' then a quick 'tə' and a light 'bl' ending. Lip position: relaxed, upper teeth near lower lip for the /p/ sound in related words isn’t relevant here; for /t/ keep tongue tip at the alveolar ridge; final /l/ is light. Audio resources: Cambridge/Forvo audio clips can help with the stressed syllable and the final cluster.
Common errors include misplacing stress (putting primary stress on the first syllable un- or over-averaging), mispronouncing the long /uː/ as a short /ʌ/ or /ɪ/ sounds, and awkwardly parsing the -able suffix as -ble without linking. Correction tips: practice the /ˌənˈsuːtəbl/ pattern, ensure the /suː/ remains a rounded, tense vowel, avoid adding an extra syllable between /suː/ and /tə/; keep the final /bl/ consonant cluster smooth, not syllabic.
In US English, you’ll hear a stronger rhotic connection before the vowel, with the /r/ in other words; here, /ˌənˈsuːtəbl/ has a clear /ː/ for /uː/. UK pronunciation tends to be non-rhotic; the /r/ is less pronounced; the /ˈsuː/ may be closer to /ˈsjuː/ in some dialects, while Australian English tends to be non-rhotic as well but with slightly broader vowels, so /ˌənˈsuːtəbl/ may sound nearer /ənˈsuːtəbl/ with subtle vowel height changes. All variants keep the -ble ending soft.
Two main challenges: the multi-syllable rhythm with a secondary stress on the second syllable and the long /uː/ in /suː/ which contrasts with the subsequent /tə/ syllable. The cluster -t- + -ble often yields a subtle linking of sounds; the final /bl/ can blur in rapid speech. Focusing on the exact /ˌənˈsuːtəbl/ rhythm, keeping the /uː/ long and the /t/ and /bl/ crisp helps clarity in connected speech.
Is there a syllable that tends to be devoiced or reduced in casual speech? The primary-gravity syllable is the second: /ˈsuː/; in fast speech, some speakers may slightly reduce /ˈsuː/ to /sjuː/ or tilt toward /suː/ without the vowel length reducing significantly. The main consideration is keeping /t/ crisp before /ə/ and ensuring the final /bl/ remains a short, light cluster rather than an extended syllable.
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- US: Rhotics influence the intrasyllabic transitions; ensure the /r/ influence exists in the surrounding words, not inside the word. The /ˈsuː/ is a tense, rounded vowel; lips should be rounded and protruding slightly. - UK: Non-rhotic; avoid extra r-coloring; the /ː/ in /suː/ may be slightly shorter; keep the /t/ clear and the final /bl/ light. - AU: Non-rhotic and often broader vowels; maintain /ˌənˈsuːtəbl/ with crisp /t/ and neutral /l/; watch for vowel length differences in fast speech. IPA references included.
Unsuitable is formed from the prefix un- meaning ‘not’ + suitable, which itself derives from the Latin word sub- (up to) or sufficient meaning ‘fitting’ or ‘capable,’ through Old French appropriating ‘suitable’ from Latin aptus ‘fitted, suitable.’ The compound emerged in English by the 17th century as a direct negation of suitability, signaling something that does not suit a purpose. It combines the negative prefix with the adjective suitable, whose core idea is readiness or fitness for a particular use. Over time, unsuitable broadened from a straightforward descriptor to a broader judgment about whether something matches needs, conditions, or contexts. The semantic arc tracks with other negations of adjectives indicating quality or compatibility, maintaining a formal tone in many contexts while remaining common in everyday usage. First known uses appear in legal and scholarly writing where precise fit and appropriateness were crucial, but it quickly spread into general usage as contexts required distinguishing between acceptable and unacceptable options, actions, or conditions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "unsuitable" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "unsuitable"
-ble sounds
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