3 syllables: voi, da, ble. Stress on voi.
VOY-duhbl
/ˈvɔɪdəbl/
voidable is pronounced VOY-duhbl (/ˈvɔɪdəbl/). It has three syllables (voi-da-ble), with the stress on "voi". Voidable is an adjective describing something that can be rendered void or invalid, typically in a legal or contractual context. It denotes that a provision or agreement may be annulled or set aside, often due to certain conditions or defects. The term implies a potential loss of enforceability rather than immediate erasure. Its usage is common in law, contracts, and formal discussions of validity.
Voidable is an adjective describing something that can be rendered void or invalid, typically in a legal or contractual context. It denotes that a provision or agreement may be annulled or set aside, often due to certain conditions or defects. The term implies a potential loss of enforceability rather than immediate erasure. Its usage is common in law, contracts, and formal discussions of validity.
- Surface-level confusion between /ɔɪ/ and /aɪ/ in the first syllable; ensure you produce the diphthong clearly as /aɪ/ in US usage or /ɔɪ/ in UK usage, with the initial onset denoting a strong two-part glide. - Over-articulating the middle /də/ as a full vowel rather than a quick, neutral schwa; keep it short and relaxed so the final /bəl/ can flow. - Final /əl/ often pronounced as /əl/ or /l/ too strongly; aim for a light, quickly released /əl/ with the tongue tip close to the alveolar ridge but not pressing.
"The contract contains a voidable clause that can be rescinded by mutual consent."
"If misrepresentation is proven, the contract is voidable at the injured party’s option."
"The court found the deal voidable on grounds of fraud."
Pronounce as /ˈvaɪ.də.bəl/ in General American or /ˈvɔɪ.də.bəl/ in many British varieties. The primary stress is on the first syllable 'VOID' /ˈvaɪ/ or /ˈvɔɪ/. The middle syllable is a schwa /də/ and the final is a weak /bəl/ with a light 'l' at the end. Visualize: VY-dah-buhl. Audio can be checked on Forvo or YouGlish for speaker variety.
Common errors include preserving a hard 'd' sound in the second syllable instead of a soft /də/ and turning the final schwa into a clear vowel; speakers also sometimes misplace stress, saying /ˈvoɪ.dæ.bəl/ instead of /ˈvaɪ.də.bəl/. To correct: relax the middle syllable to a neutral /də/ and allow the final /bəl/ to be quick and light. Practicing with a three-beat rhythm helps achieve natural phrasing.
In US English, /ˈvaɪ.də.bəl/ with a rhotic, more pronounced /r/ in other words around. In UK English, /ˈvɔɪ.də.bəl/ often with a shorter /ɔɪ/ and non-rhotic trailing consonants; Australian English tends to a slightly flatter vowel after the first syllable and a lightly trilled or tapped /d/. Overall, the core rhythm remains strong on the first syllable, but vowel quality and consonant softness vary.
The difficulty lies in the quick transition from the diphthong /aɪ/ or /ɔɪ/ to the unstressed mid /də/ and then into the dark /əl/ cluster. The sequence demands precise timing: first, a clear onset with /aɪ/ or /ɔɪ/, then a reduced /də/, and finally a light /bəl/ with an optional syllabic /l/. Misplacing stress or over-articulating the middle syllable disrupts the cadence.
A notable feature is the light, almost syllabic ending /əl/ where the /l/ is not strongly released; many speakers reduce the final vowel to a very short schwa and glide into a quiet /l/. This subtle ending can be tricky when the phrase ends a sentence, as it often links to the next word without a full vocalic surplus.
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- US: emphasize rhotics only where naturally present, keep the /r/ solid but not intrusive; keep the /d/ as a soft stop and the /əl/ as a very light schwa plus light 'l'. - UK: non-rhotic context, so avoid adding an /r/ sound; the first diphthong may be pronounced slightly longer and the /ə/ in the middle tends to be a clearer schwa. - AU: vowel quality slightly broader, vowels less compressed; keep the /ɔɪ/ relatively open, with the neutral middle and light ending. IPA guidance: /ˈvaɪ.də.bəl/ (US) vs /ˈvɔɪ.də.bəl/ (UK) vs /ˈvɔɪ.də.bəl/ (AU).
Voidable comes from the word void, meaning empty or invalid, plus the suffix -able, indicating capability. The core of void traces to Latin vacuus (empty) and Old French voide, with legal language adopting void to describe non-enforceable instruments. The sense expanded in medieval and early modern law to refer to contracts that could be declared void by a court under certain circumstances, rather than those that were already invalid. The suffix -able developed in Middle English to form adjectives meaning ‘capable of’ or ‘susceptible to,’ so voidable literally means ‘capable of becoming void.’ The term gained precision in civil and commercial law by the 17th–19th centuries, aligning with phrases like ‘voidable at the option of the party.’ In contemporary usage, voidable is common in contract law, insurance, and administrative rules where a provision’s enforceability can be contested or rescinded.
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Words that rhyme with "voidable"
-ble sounds
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