4 syllables: Ven, er, a, ble. Stress on Ven.
VEN-ur-uh-buhl
/ˈvɛnɚəbəl/
Venerable is pronounced VEN-ur-uh-buhl (/ˈvɛnɚəbəl/). It has four syllables (Ven-er-a-ble), with the stress on "Ven". Venerable is an adjective describing someone accorded a great deal of respect, often due to age, wisdom, or status. It can also refer to an esteemed position or designation within certain religious or formal contexts. The term conveys solemn dignity and authority, and its use is typically formal or ceremonial.
adjectiveVenerable is an adjective describing someone accorded a great deal of respect, often due to age, wisdom, or status. It can also refer to an esteemed position or designation within certain religious or formal contexts. The term conveys solemn dignity and authority, and its use is typically formal or ceremonial.
- Misplacing primary stress on the second syllable (ven-ER-able) or distributing stress evenly, which weakens the formal tone. Fix by keeping primary stress on the first syllable: VEN-er-able, with a crisp beginning and a gentle middle. - Overpronouncing the second syllable as a full /eɪ/ rather than a reduced /ə/. Use a light schwa /ə/ in the middle to avoid a 've-na-rate' effect. - Final -ble often tackled incorrectly; ensure you release the /l/ and not close the mouth early, so you don’t end with a dull /bəl/. Practice with careful lip-tongue posture to avoid a heavy or swallowed ending.
How to Pronounce Venerable
"The elder statesman is revered as a venerable figure in the community."
"They presented the professor with a venerable title, acknowledging decades of scholarly achievement."
"In many traditions, a venerable monk is consulted for guidance and wisdom."
Pronounce as VEN-er-ə-bəl (US) or VEN-ə-rə-bəl (UK/AU). Primary stress on the first syllable. Phonetic guide: /ˈvɛnərəbl/ (US) or /ˈvenərəb(ə)l/ (UK). Start with a clear V, then a short e as in 'bed,' followed by a schwa in the middle, ending with a light -ble or -bul sound. Imagine saying ‘ven’ + ‘er’ + ‘uh’ + ‘bəl,’ and keep the final syllable lightly pronounced. Audio reference: consider listening to the pronunciation on Cambridge/Oxford online dictionaries andForvo entries for “venerable.” Keywords: VEN, er, ə, bəl, IPA, stress.
Common errors include misplacing stress (say VEN-uh-ray-bul or ve-NER-uh-ble), mispronouncing the middle syllable as full /e/ instead of a reduced schwa, and slurring the final -ble into a lazy /bəl/ or /bl/. Correct it by: 1) maintaining primary stress on the first syllable, 2) using a short, relaxed schwa in the middle (/ə/), and 3) releasing the final /l/ with a light, almost inaudible /əl/ so it isn’t swallowed.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˈvɛnərəbl/, with a strong first syllable and a reduced middle. UK and AU accents tend to maintain a similar pattern but can show modest vowel quality differences: /ˈvenərəbl/ or /ˈvenərəbl/ with a slightly longer schwa in some speakers. Rhoticity minimally affects the word because there is no R coloring in coda; the main contrast is vowel quality and tapping of the r in some UK regional varieties. Focus on the first syllable stress and a soft middle vowel.
The difficulty lies in the unstressed middle syllable and the final light -ble. Many speakers reduce /ə/ to a barely audible vowel, or merge /ərə/ into /ər/. The final -ble can bleed into the /bl/ cluster, making it hard to land a distinct -bl ending. Also, keeping the primary stress on the first syllable while maintaining an accurate second syllable without over-pronouncing the middle vowel is tricky. Practice with slowed saying and listening to native samples to calibrate exact mouth positions.
There is no silent letter in venerable. All letters contribute to the pronunciation: the initial V, the short E in the first syllable, the schwa in the middle, and the final -ble pronounced with a light /bəl/ or /bl/. The challenge is not silent letters but the realization of the reduced middle vowel and the final soft l sound, so focus on producing a clean, two-syllable rhythm with a clear first-stress.
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- US: rhotic? non-rhotic tendencies do not affect venerable; still keep r-color minimal. Emphasize a clear VEN-er-ə-bəl with a crisp onset and gentle middle vowel. - UK: may retain subtle vowel distinctions and a shorter /ə/ in the middle; more non-rhotic, so final 'l' remains light. - AU: similarly non-rhotic; vowel quality can be slightly more centralized, but keep stress on first syllable. Use IPA references: US /ˈvɛnərəbl/, UK /ˈvenərəb(ə)l/, AU /ˈvenərəbl/.
Venerable comes from the Latin venerabilis, meaning ‘worthy of reverence’ or ‘to be respected,’ formed from venerari ‘to worship, reverence’ plus the suffix -abilis ‘able to be.’ The root vener- relates to veneratio, reverence. In Classical Latin, venerabilis described persons worthy of reverence, often due to age or rank. As Latin evolved into the Romance languages, the word faded into medieval and early modern English usage, retaining its ceremonial weight. In English, venerable entered usage by the 14th century in contexts of high respect, especially for elders, saints, or long-standing institutions. Over time, the word broadened to describe anything commanding deep respect through age, wisdom, or tradition, while still preserving a formal or solemn tone. In contemporary usage, venerable is common in academic, religious, and institutional discourse, and is frequently paired with “institution,” “tradition,” or “elder.” It remains a marker of deference and dignity, rather than mere popularity, and often appears in ceremonial introductions, formal accolades, and historical descriptions. The nuance continues to emphasize merit accrued over time and the weight of long-standing reputation rather than novelty or flashy status.
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Words that rhyme with "Venerable"
-ble sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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