How to pronounce nocturnal
Say it like nok-TUR-nul. Nocturnal has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce nocturnal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- nok
- TUR
- nul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nocturnal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- nokKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- TURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- nulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of nocturnal
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: nok-TUR-nul.
What does nocturnal mean?
- Of a person, creature, group, or species, primarily active during the night.“nocturnal birds”
- Of an occurrence, taking place at night, nightly.“a suspicious nocturnal outing”
- A person or creature that is active at night.
Where does nocturnal come from?
From Middle French nocturnal, from Latin nocturnālis (“nocturnal”), from Latin nocturnus (“nocturnal”), from Latin nox (“night”), from Proto-Indo-European *nókʷts (“night”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with nocturnal
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of nocturnal.
Questions about saying nocturnal
How do you pronounce nocturnal?
Say nok-TUR-nul. The American pronunciation is /nɑkˈtɝnəl/. In British English it is /nɒkˈtɜːnəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in nocturnal?
Nocturnal has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TUR). Broken into parts: nok · TUR · nul.
Is nocturnal 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 /nɒkˈtɜːnəl/ (nok-TUR-nul).