[General] The Suffix -able

[Anne59]

Hi, I've been looking at words with the suffix -able and have found the following:-

1. adaptable
2. fashionable

3. constable

4. stable

First I thought why does -able have a different pronunciation in the word "stable"?
Then I thought it's because "adapt" and "fashion" are words on their own but "st" is not.
Then I realised that "const" is not a word on its own either but it has the same pronunciation as "adaptable" and "fashionable".

Is there a rule that tells me how to pronounce -able?

Thanks for your help!

 

[PHenry1026]

Hi Anne,

adaptable, fashionable, and constable all end with the phonemes /ə

bəl/.

While stable ends with only the phonemes /bəl/.


;-) Percy

 

[Raymott]

Any two-syllable word is likely to be pronounced like 'stable' - able (also unable), fable, table, sable, cable etc.
Longer words, pronounce like 'adaptable'.

 

[PHenry1026]

Of course there is always an exception to any rule like "enable".

;-) Percy

 

[PHenry1026]

Thinking more about this all words ending with the phonemes /eɪbəl/, like stable or enable (3 syllables) are pronounced the same way.


;-) Percy