How to pronounce modal
Say it like MOH-dul. Modal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce modal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MOH
- dul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Modal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- dulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of modal
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: MOH-dul.
What does modal mean?
- Of, or relating to a mode or modus.
- Of, relating to, or describing the mood of a clause.
- Of, relating to, or composed in the musical modi by which an octave is divided, associated with emotional moods in Ancient, and in medieval ecclesiastical, music.
- A modal (etymology 1, adjective sense 4) proposition.
- A modal (etymology 1, adjective sense 2) form, notably a modal auxiliary.
- A modal verb.
- A semi-synthetic fabric, a very soft kind of rayon textile made from beech tree pulp and processed with chemicals.
Where does modal come from?
From Middle French modal, from Medieval Latin modālis (“pertaining to a mode”), from Latin modus (“mode”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with modal
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of modal.
Questions about saying modal
How do you pronounce modal?
Say MOH-dul. The American pronunciation is /ˈmoʊdəl/. In British English it is /ˈməʊdəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in modal?
Modal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOH). Broken into parts: MOH · dul.
Is modal pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈməʊdəl/ (MOH-dul).