probable
prob·a·ble/ˈpɹɑbəbl̩/adjective, noun
probable is spelled P-R-O-B-A-B-L-E: 8 letters and 3 syllables (prob·a·ble). It appears 6.2 times per million words in written English, the 9,735th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, probable means “Likely or most likely to be true” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in probable?
| Letters | 8: P-R-O-B-A-B-L-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3: prob·a·ble |
| In writing | 6.2 times per million words; the 9,735th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is probable?
Probable appears 6.2 times per million words in written English, the 9,735th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce probable?
- UK /ˈpɹɒbəbl̩/
- US /ˈpɹɑbəbl̩/
Probable has 3 syllables, split prob·a·ble in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-probable.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with probable?
One word on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as probable from its last stressed vowel (/ɑbəbl/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of probable
- more probable comparative
- most probable superlative
- probables plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does probable mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Likely or most likely to be true.
It's probable that it will rain tomorrow.
- 2
Likely to happen.
With all the support we have, success is looking probable.
- 3
Supporting, or giving ground for, belief, but not demonstrating.
- 4
obsoleteCapable of being proved.
noun
- 1
Something that is likely.
- 2
A person who is likely to appear or do a certain thing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate probable?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of probable: prob..
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Probable in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense likely to be true:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | probable |
| German | glaubhaft, wahrscheinlich |
| Portuguese | provável |
| Spanish | probable |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does probable come from?
From Middle English probable, from Old French probable, from Latin probābilis (“that may be proved, credible”), from probāre (“to test, examine”); see probe, probity, prove. Compare recent doublet provable.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).