How to pronounce signal
Say it like SIG-nul. Signal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce signal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SIG
- nul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Signal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SIGSay this part loudest and longest. 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 signal
American and British speakers say signal in essentially the same way: /ˈsɪɡnəl/ in the US and /ˈsɪɡnəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: SIG-nul.
What does signal mean?
- any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message“signals from the boat suddenly stopped”
- any incitement to action“he awaited the signal to start”“the victory was a signal for wild celebration”
- an electric quantity (voltage or current or field strength) whose modulation represents coded information about the source from which it comes
- communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs“He signed his disapproval with a dismissive hand gesture”“The diner signaled the waiters to bring the menu”
- be a signal for or a symptom of“These symptoms indicate a serious illness”“Her behavior points to a severe neurosis”
- notably out of the ordinary“the year saw one signal triumph for the Labour party”
Where does signal come from?
From Old French segnal, seignal or Medieval Latin signāle; noun use of the neuter of Late Latin signālis, from Latin signum; verb use from 1805, as a shortened from signalize (1650s).
Questions about saying signal
How do you pronounce signal?
Say SIG-nul. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɪɡnəl/. In British English it is /ˈsɪɡnəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in signal?
Signal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIG). Broken into parts: SIG · nul.
Do Americans and Brits say signal the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɪɡnəl/ and the British form is /ˈsɪɡnəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.