How to pronounce marginal
Say it like MAR-juh-nul. Marginal has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce marginal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MAR
- juh
- nul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Marginal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- juhKeep 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 marginal
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MAH-jih-nul.
What does marginal mean?
- at or constituting a border or edge“the marginal strip of beach”
- of questionable or minimal quality“borderline grades”“marginal writing ability”
- just barely adequate or within a lower limit“a bare majority”“a marginal victory”
Where does marginal come from?
Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin marginālis, equivalent to margin + -al.
Questions about saying marginal
How do you pronounce marginal?
Say MAR-juh-nul. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɑrdʒənəl/. In British English it is /ˈmɑːdʒɪnəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in marginal?
Marginal has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAR). Broken into parts: MAR · juh · nul.
Is marginal 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 /ˈmɑːdʒɪnəl/ (MAH-jih-nul).