How to Pronounce “comprehensible”

American (US)

/kɒmpɹəˈhɛnsɪbəl/

British (UK)

/kɒmpɹəˈhɛnsɪbəl/

adjective — Able to be comprehended.

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

Where the stress falls. “comprehensible” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /kɒmpɹəˈhɛnsɪbəl/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /kɒmpɹəˈhɛnsɪbəl/ 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 "comprehensible" mean?

comprehensible (adjective): Able to be comprehended.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "comprehensible", /kɒmpɹəˈhɛnsɪbəl/, 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 "comprehensible"?

/kɒmpɹəˈhɛnsɪbəl/ in American English, /kɒmpɹəˈhɛnsɪbəl/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "comprehensible"?

“comprehensible” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /kɒmpɹəˈhɛnsɪbəl/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.