How to Pronounce “collectible”

American (US)

/kəˈlɛktɪbəl/

British (UK)

/kəˈlɛktɪbəl/

adjective — Worthy or suitable for collecting on historical/financial grounds, or for meeting a personal aesthetic.

Example: collectible stamps, collectible china, collectible Beatles memorabilia.

The final e is silent. The transcription /kəˈlɛktɪbəl/ ends on a consonant sound, so the written e at the end of “collectible” is not pronounced.

Where the stress falls. “collectible” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /kəˈlɛktɪbəl/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /kəˈlɛktɪbəl/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "collectible" mean?

collectible (adjective): Worthy or suitable for collecting on historical/financial grounds, or for meeting a personal aesthetic. For example — collectible stamps, collectible china, collectible Beatles memorabilia.

How do you pronounce "collectible" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "collectible", /kəˈlɛktɪbəl/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "collectible"?

/kəˈlɛktɪbəl/ in American English, /kəˈlɛktɪbəl/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "collectible"?

“collectible” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /kəˈlɛktɪbəl/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.