How to pronounce parental
Say it like puh-REN-tul. Parental has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (REN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce parental. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- puh
- REN
- tul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Parental pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of parental
American and British speakers say parental in essentially the same way: /pəˈrɛntəl/ in the US and /pəˈrɛntəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: puh-REN-tul.
What does parental mean?
- designating the generation of organisms from which hybrid offspring are produced
- relating to or characteristic of or befitting a parent“parental guidance”
Where does parental come from?
From Middle French parental, from Latin parentālis, from parens (“parent”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with parental
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of parental.
- mental
- environmental
- fundamental
- experimental
- gentle
- dental
- continental
- instrumental
- accidental
- developmental
Questions about saying parental
How do you pronounce parental?
Say puh-REN-tul. The American pronunciation is /pəˈrɛntəl/. In British English it is /pəˈrɛntəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in parental?
Parental has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (REN). Broken into parts: puh · REN · tul.
Do Americans and Brits say parental the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pəˈrɛntəl/ and the British form is /pəˈrɛntəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.