How to pronounce oval
Say it like OH-vul. Oval has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce oval. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OH
- vul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oval pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- vulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of oval
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: OH-vul.
What does oval mean?
- a closed plane curve resulting from the intersection of a circular cone and a plane cutting completely through it“the sums of the distances from the foci to any point on an ellipse is constant”
- rounded like an egg
Where does oval come from?
From Late Latin ovalis, from ovum; cognate with French and Italian ovale, Dutch ovaal.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying oval
How do you pronounce oval?
Say OH-vul. The American pronunciation is /ˈoʊvəl/. In British English it is /ˈəʊvəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oval?
Oval has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OH). Broken into parts: OH · vul.
Is oval 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 /ˈəʊvəl/ (OH-vul).