Preferable (pronunciation)

In British academic circles, the best pronunciation of the adjective preferable is the traditional RP one, with the stress on the first syllable: 'PREFF-er-eb-le', IPA: /ˈprɛf ^ər əb ^əl/, with the consequent 'PREFF-er-ebly', {{IPA|ˈprɛf ^ər əb lɪ)) for its adverb. A growing tendency to realize the adjective with the same pronunciation as the verb 'to prefer', with the stress on the second syllable 'pre-FUR-eb-el' (/prɛf ˈɛr əb əl/) is to be avoided, as is the occasional realization of the last two syllables like 'able' - 'pre-FUR-abe-el', /prɛf ˈɛr eɪb əl/.

• The noun 'preferability', meaning 'the condition or state of being preferable', has the stress on the fourth syllable, with a secondary stress on the first: 'pref-er-a-BILL-it-y', IPA: /ˌprɛf ^ɛr əb ˈɪl ɪt ɪ/.