Spanish · Pronunciation Guide

How do you pronounce "amable" in Spanish?

Q: How do you pronounce amable in Spanish?

amable is pronounced with the stress described below. In IPA it is written /aˈma.βle/. It means “kind.” ah-MAH-bleh, three beats with a soft b and a fully pronounced final e.

ah-MAH-bleh, three beats with a soft b and a fully pronounced final e.

amable /aˈma.βle/

Three syllables: a-MA-ble, stressed on the second-to-last, the placement the default rule gives. Like other -ble adjectives, it has a single form for both genders, so only the plural "amables" changes and the stress stays put. Compare the noun "amabilidad", which moves the beat to the very end because it finishes in d.

Listen: amable

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Sound it out

a A wide-open "ah" opening the word, unstressed but at full value.

ma A normal m and a second wide "ah", this one stressed. The two a vowels are identical in quality.

ble The b sits between a vowel and an l, so it goes soft: the lips approach without meeting and the voice hums through. Then a bright forward l and a short "eh".

Hear it in a sentence

Fuiste muy amable conmigo.

You were very kind to me.

Listen: Fuiste muy amable conmigo.

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"Fuiste muy amable conmigo" uses "conmigo", the fused form of con plus mí that Spanish requires — you cannot say "con mí". "Fuiste" is two beats, FWEES-teh, with the ui gliding together. And the final e of "amable" links straight into the k of "conmigo" with no pause.

Where English speakers slip

Swallow the final e, English-style, and three syllables become two: "ah-MAH-bl". It is a full short "eh". The b then gets popped when it should be soft between the vowel and the l. And the opening a wants reducing to a schwa, which is the most persistent English habit of all — keep it wide open, quick but clear.