How to Pronounce Oblige

To pronounce "oblige", say OBL-ig-e — 3 syllables, IPA /əˈblaɪdʒ/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

oblige

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.

Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying oblige, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

3

Syllables

6

Letters

/əˈblaɪdʒ/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “oblige”

"oblige" has 3 syllables: obl-ig-e. It rhymes with ige and teige, if that helps it stick.

What does oblige mean?

verb

  1. To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means.

    “I am obliged to report to the police station every week.”

  2. To do (someone) a service or favour (hence, originally, creating an obligation).

    “He obliged me by not parking his car in the drive.”

Hear “oblige” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with oblige

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

igeteige

Related words

compelobligateaccommodateholdbindimposecoerceenforce

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "oblige"?▾

"Oblige" has 3 syllables: obl · ig · e.

What is the IPA transcription of "oblige"?▾

The IPA transcription of "oblige" is /əˈblaɪdʒ/.

What does "oblige" mean?▾

Oblige: To constrain someone by force or by social, moral or legal means.

Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?

Open “oblige” in the full dictionary →