How to pronounce feral
Say it like FER-ul. Feral has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce feral. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FER
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Feral pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of feral
American and British speakers say feral in essentially the same way: /ˈfɛrəl/ in the US and /ˈfɛrəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: FER-ul.
What does feral mean?
- Wild; untamed.
- Of an animal, wild but descended from domestic or captive ancestors; thus, in the wild, although not necessarily of the wild type.“In this region, the wild boars can be dangerous, but (perhaps counterintuitively) the feral hogs can be even worse.”
- Having the characteristics of an animal; animal-like.
- Deadly, fatal.
- Of or pertaining to the dead, funereal.
- A domesticated (non-human) animal that has returned to the wild; an animal, particularly a domesticated animal, living independently of humans.
- A contemptible young person, a lout, a person who behaves wildly.
- A person who has isolated themselves from the outside world; one living an alternative lifestyle.
Where does feral come from?
From Latin fera (“wild beast”, noun) + -al or Latin ferus (“wild; savage; cruel”, adjective) + -al.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with feral
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of feral.
Questions about saying feral
How do you pronounce feral?
Say FER-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɛrəl/. In British English it is /ˈfɛrəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in feral?
Feral has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FER). Broken into parts: FER · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say feral the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈfɛrəl/ and the British form is /ˈfɛrəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.