How to pronounce canal
Say it like kuh-NAL. Canal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAL).
- kuh
- NAL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Canal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NALSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of canal
American and British speakers say canal in essentially the same way: /kəˈnæl/ in the US and /kəˈnæl/ in the UK.
British respelling: kuh-NAL.
What does canal mean?
- An artificial waterway or artificially improved river used for travel, shipping, or irrigation.
- A tubular channel within the body or within a plant.
- One of the faint, hazy markings resembling straight lines on early telescopic images of the surface of Mars; see Martian canals
- To dig an artificial waterway in or to (a place), especially for drainage
- To travel along a canal by boat
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with canal
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of canal.
Questions about saying canal
How do you pronounce canal?
Say kuh-NAL. The American pronunciation is /kəˈnæl/. In British English it is /kəˈnæl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in canal?
Canal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAL). Broken into parts: kuh · NAL.
Do Americans and Brits say canal the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kəˈnæl/ and the British form is /kəˈnæl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.