How to pronounce orbital
Say it like OR-buh-tul. Orbital has three 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 orbital. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OR
- buh
- tul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Orbital 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.
- buhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- tulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of orbital
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: AW-bih-tul.
What does orbital mean?
- of or relating to an orbit“orbital revolution”“orbital velocity”
- of or relating to the eye socket“orbital scale”“orbital arch”
Where does orbital come from?
Borrowed from Medieval Latin orbitālis, from orbita (“a track or rut; a circuit, orbit”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix), equivalent to orbit + -al.
Questions about saying orbital
How do you pronounce orbital?
Say OR-buh-tul. The American pronunciation is /ˈɔrbətəl/. In British English it is /ˈɔːbɪtəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in orbital?
Orbital has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OR). Broken into parts: OR · buh · tul.
Is orbital 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 /ˈɔːbɪtəl/ (AW-bih-tul).