How to pronounce cardinal
Say it like KAR-duh-nul. Cardinal has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cardinal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAR
- duh
- nul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cardinal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- duhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- nulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of cardinal
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: KAH-dih-nul.
What does cardinal mean?
- (Roman Catholic Church) one of a group of more than 100 prominent bishops in the Sacred College who advise the Pope and elect new Popes
- the number of elements in a mathematical set; denotes a quantity but not the order
- a variable color averaging a vivid red
- serving as an essential component“a cardinal rule”“the central cause of the problem”
- being or denoting a numerical quantity but not order“cardinal numbers”
Where does cardinal come from?
From Middle French cardinal, from Latin cardinālis (“pertaining to a hinge, hence applied to that on which something turns or depends, important, principal, chief”), from cardin-, cardō (“hinge”) + -ālis, adjectival suffix.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying cardinal
How do you pronounce cardinal?
Say KAR-duh-nul. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑrdənəl/. In British English it is /ˈkɑːdɪnəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cardinal?
Cardinal has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAR). Broken into parts: KAR · duh · nul.
Is cardinal pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈkɑːdɪnəl/ (KAH-dih-nul).