How to Pronounce “inevitable”

American (US)

/ɪˈnɛvɪtəbəl/

British (UK)

/ɪˈnɛvɪtəbəl/

Australian (AU)

/ɪˈnevɪtəbəl/

adjective — Impossible to avoid or prevent.

Example: We were going so fast that the collision was inevitable.

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

Where the stress falls. “inevitable” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /ɪˈnɛvɪtəbəl/ 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. /ɪˈnɛvɪtəbəl/ 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 "inevitable" mean?

inevitable (adjective): Impossible to avoid or prevent. For example — We were going so fast that the collision was inevitable.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "inevitable", /ɪˈnɛvɪtəbəl/, 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 "inevitable"?

/ɪˈnɛvɪtəbəl/ in American English, /ɪˈnɛvɪtəbəl/ in British English, /ɪˈnevɪtəbəl/ in Australian English.

Which syllable is stressed in "inevitable"?

“inevitable” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /ɪˈnɛvɪtəbəl/ 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.

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