How to pronounce banal
Say it like buh-NAHL. Banal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAHL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce banal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- buh
- NAHL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Banal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- buhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NAHLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of banal
American and British speakers say banal in essentially the same way: /bəˈnɑl/ in the US and /bəˈnɑːl/ in the UK.
British respelling: buh-NAHL.
What does banal mean?
- Common in a boring way, to the point of being predictable; containing nothing new or fresh.“banal clichés”
Where does banal come from?
Borrowed from French banal (“held in common, relating to feudal service, by extension commonplace”), from Old French banel, related to Medieval Latin bannālis (“subject to feudal authority”), from Latin bannus (“jurisdiction”), both ultimat
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with banal
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of banal.
Questions about saying banal
How do you pronounce banal?
Say buh-NAHL. The American pronunciation is /bəˈnɑl/. In British English it is /bəˈnɑːl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in banal?
Banal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAHL). Broken into parts: buh · NAHL.
Do Americans and Brits say banal the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bəˈnɑl/ and the British form is /bəˈnɑːl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.