internal
/ɪnˈtɜɹ.nəl/adjective
internal is spelled I-N-T-E-R-N-A-L: 8 letters and 3 syllables. It appears 46 times per million words in written English, the 2,204th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, internal means “Of or situated on the inside” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in internal?
| Letters | 8: I-N-T-E-R-N-A-L |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 46 times per million words; the 2,204th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is internal?
Internal appears 46 times per million words in written English, the 2,204th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce internal?
- UK /ɪnˈtɜː.nəl/
- US /ɪnˈtɜɹ.nəl/
- /ɪnˈʈəʳ.nəl/
Internal has 3 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-internal.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with internal?
11 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as internal from its last stressed vowel (/ɜɹnəl/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of internal
- more internal comparative
- most internal superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does internal mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Of or situated on the inside.
We saw the internal compartments of the machine.
- 2
Within the body.
Her bleeding was internal.
- 3
Concerned with the domestic affairs of a nation, state or other political community.
The nation suffered from internal conflicts.
- 4
Concerned with the non-public affairs of a company or other organisation.
An internal investigation was conducted.
- 5
Present or arising within an organism or one of its parts.
an internal stimulus
- 6
Applied or intended for application through the stomach by being swallowed.
an internal remedy
- 7
Experienced in one's mind; inner rather than expressed.
internal feelings
- 8
Of the inner nature of a thing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate internal?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of internal: int..
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Internal in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does internal come from?
From Middle English internall, internalle, borrowing from New Latin internālis (“of or pertaining to the inner part”), from internus (“inward, internal”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix). By surface analysis, intern + -al.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).