English pronunciation · Words Starting with R

Reliable Pronunciation

Reliable is pronounced ri-LY-uh-buhl, IPA /riˈlaɪəbəl/.

ri-LY-uh-buhl

US /riˈlaɪəbəl/  ·  UK /rɪˈlaɪəbəl/

Syllables: ri · LY · uh · buhl (4 syllables, stress on syllable 2)

adjective: Able to be trusted to work properly or to do what is expected.

Audio for the American and British pronunciations plays on this page with JavaScript enabled.

Reliable in a Sentence

  • The bus service here is not especially reliable.
  • We need a reliable estimate before Friday.
  • She has been a reliable friend for twenty years.

Common Mispronunciations of Reliable

Not REE-ly-uh-buhl

The re- at the front is unstressed and shrinks to a quick ri.

Not ri-LEE-uh-buhl

The stressed vowel is the long i of rely, the verb this adjective is built from.

More words starting with r · Every word in the pronunciation guide