How to pronounce medical
Say it like MED-uh-kul. Medical has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MED).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce medical. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MED
- uh
- kul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Medical pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MEDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- kulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of medical
American and British speakers say medical in essentially the same way: /ˈmɛdəkəl/ in the US and /ˈmɛdɪkəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: MED-ih-kul.
What does medical mean?
- relating to the study or practice of medicine“the medical profession”“a medical student”
- requiring or amenable to treatment by medicine especially as opposed to surgery“medical treatment”“pneumonia is a medical disease”
- of or belonging to Aesculapius or the healing art
- a thorough physical examination; includes a variety of tests depending on the age and sex and health of the person
Where does medical come from?
Borrowed from French médical, from Medieval Latin medicālis, from Latin medicus.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying medical
How do you pronounce medical?
Say MED-uh-kul. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɛdəkəl/. In British English it is /ˈmɛdɪkəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in medical?
Medical has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MED). Broken into parts: MED · uh · kul.
Do Americans and Brits say medical the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmɛdəkəl/ and the British form is /ˈmɛdɪkəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.