How to pronounce oral
Say it like OR-ul. Oral has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce oral. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OR
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oral pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of oral
American and British speakers say oral in essentially the same way: /ˈɔrəl/ in the US and /ˈɒrəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: OR-ul.
What does oral mean?
- using speech rather than writing“an oral tradition”“an oral agreement”
- of or relating to or affecting or for use in the mouth“oral hygiene”“an oral thermometer”
- of or involving the mouth or mouth region or the surface on which the mouth is located“the oral cavity”“the oral mucous membrane”
- an examination conducted by spoken communication
Where does oral come from?
Early 17th century borrowing from Late Latin ōrālis, from ōs (“the mouth”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with oral
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of oral.
Words that sound like oral
Questions about saying oral
How do you pronounce oral?
Say OR-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈɔrəl/. In British English it is /ˈɒrəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oral?
Oral has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OR). Broken into parts: OR · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say oral the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɔrəl/ and the British form is /ˈɒrəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as oral?
Oral sounds the same as aural in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.