How to pronounce ordinal
Say it like OR-dih-nul. Ordinal 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 ordinal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OR
- dih
- nul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ordinal 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.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- nulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of ordinal
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: AW-dih-nul.
What does ordinal mean?
- Indicating position in a sequence.“"Three" is a cardinal number, while "third" is the corresponding ordinal number.”
- Pertaining to a taxon at the rank of order.
- Intercardinal.
- An ordinal number such as first, second and third.
- A book used in the ordination of Anglican ministers, or in certain Roman Catholic services
- A unique serial number assigned to a satoshi based on its position in the blockchain.
Where does ordinal come from?
Borrowed from Latin ōrdinālis, adjective formed from noun ōrdō (“order”), + adjective suffix -ālis.
Questions about saying ordinal
How do you pronounce ordinal?
Say OR-dih-nul. The American pronunciation is /ˈɔrdɪnəl/. In British English it is /ˈɔːdɪnəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ordinal?
Ordinal has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OR). Broken into parts: OR · dih · nul.
Is ordinal 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 /ˈɔːdɪnəl/ (AW-dih-nul).