veye-uh-BIL-uh-tee
/vaɪəˈbɪləti/
viability is pronounced veye-uh-BIL-uh-tee (/vaɪəˈbɪləti/). Viability refers to the quality or state of being able to work, develop, or be successful under particular conditions. It often describes the potential for survival or practical feasibility, especially in contexts like experiments, projects, or biological growth. The term implies evaluable practicality and likelihood of lasting effectiveness across time or circumstances.
Viability refers to the quality or state of being able to work, develop, or be successful under particular conditions. It often describes the potential for survival or practical feasibility, especially in contexts like experiments, projects, or biological growth. The term implies evaluable practicality and likelihood of lasting effectiveness across time or circumstances.
- You’ll often tilt toward saying vi-a-bil-i-ty with a heavier second syllable or rush the final -ty; keep the primary stress on the /ˈbɪl/ and maintain crisp /ti/ at the end. - Common missteps include reducing /ˌvaɪ.ə/ to /vaɪ.ə/ or misplacing the second syllable vowel; practice with slow, deliberate articulation of each vowel, then reassemble. - Some speakers soften the /l/ in /bɪl/ or blend /l/ into the following /ɪ/; ensure your tongue taps /l/ cleanly before the /ɪ/.
"The viability of the new vaccine was tested in large-scale trials."
"Researchers discussed the financial viability of the startup before seeking investment."
"The team assessed the project’s viability in terms of cost, time, and impact."
Viability is pronounced vi-ah-BIL-i-tee, with primary stress on the third syllable: /ˌvaɪ.əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ in US and UK, /ˌvaɪ.əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/. The first syllable combines the /aɪ/ diphthong as in “high,” followed by a schwa in the second syllable, then the stressed /ˈbɪl/ cluster, and ends with /ɪ.ti/ or /iːti/ depending on tempo. Tip: ensure the /ˈbɪl/ chunk is crisp and avoid letting the stress bleed into the following syllables.”,
Two common errors: (1) misplacing the stress, putting emphasis too early on the second syllable; (2) reducing the /ˈbɪl/ to a softer /bəl/ or blending it with the following /ɪ/ so it sounds like vi·a·bil·i·ty. Correction: keep the primary stress on the /ˈbɪl/ portion and pronounce /bɪl/ clearly before the unstressed /ɪ.ti/. Practice with a slow tempo, then speed up while maintaining segmental clarity.
Across US/UK/AU, the core vowels are similar: /ˌvaɪ.əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/. In US speech you may hear a slightly more rhotic articulation and a clearer /ɪ/ in the final syllables; UK varieties may have a crisper /t/ at the end in careful speech and less vowel lengthening; Australian accents tend to reduce vowels slightly and may have a more centralized schwa in the second syllable. The primary stress remains on the /ˈbɪl/ segment in most dialects.
The word blends a high-front diphthong /aɪ/ in the first syllable, a mid schwa in the second, a stressed /bɪl/ cluster, and a final /ɪ.ti/ sequence. The long, multi-syllabic rhythm can mask the internal consonant timing, and many speakers mis-stress, undersell /ˈbɪl/, or shorten the ending. Focus on articulating the consonant cluster cleanly, maintaining the secondary stress pattern, and slowing the pace in the middle to keep the sequence distinct.
No, all letters contribute to pronunciation. There are no silent letters in viability. Each syllable carries a clear vowel sound: /ˌvaɪ.əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/. Paying attention to every vowel helps avoid trailing consonant sounds or merging syllables, ensuring even, audible syllables from start to finish.
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- US: tend toward a rhotic, clearer final syllables; emphasize /bɪl/ with a crisp /l/ and a floating /ɪ/ before the final /ti/. - UK: may feature a slightly shorter /ɪ/ and more precise consonant closure on /t/; keep /b/ consonant sharp before /ɪ/. - AU: vowels can be more centralized; maintain the /aɪ/ in the first syllable distinctly, and avoid overly flat intonation on the last syllables; the ending should still be audible as /ti/. - IPA anchors: use /ˌvaɪ.əˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ as core reference; keep the primary stress on /bɪl/ while ensuring the preceding /ə/ is short and the following /ɪ.ti/ is clear.
Viability derives from the French viable, meaning able to live, from Latin vivere, to live. The modern noun viability combines the French adjective with the abstract noun -ity, signaling a state or quality. The sense of “being capable of living or functioning” broadened through science and economics to mean “capable of success or success under given conditions.” The earliest uses in English appear in the 19th and early 20th centuries, often in scientific, medical, or economic discussions, where scholars described the viability of organisms, experiments, or plans. Over time, it evolved to cover broader interpretations of feasibility and practicability in technology, business, and policy. Today, viability is a staple term in project assessment, biotech, and sustainability discourse, indicating whether an option can realistically persist or achieve desired outcomes under specified constraints.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "viability" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "viability" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "viability"
-ity sounds
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