# vernal

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈvɜːn(ə)l/ · frequency rank #49,708

## Definitions
1. Pertaining to or occurring in spring.
2. Having characteristics like spring; fresh, young, youthful.

## Etymology
PIE word
 *wósr̥
From Latin vernālis (“(rare) of or pertaining to spring; vernal”), from vērnus (“of or pertaining to spring; vernal”) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship). Vērnus is derived from vēr (“season of spring”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wósr̥ (“spring”)) + -nus (suffix forming adjectives). The English word is cognate with Old French vernal (modern French vernal), Italian vernale (“pertaining to spring; vernal”), Occitan vernal, Portuguese vernal (“pertaining to spring; vernal”), Spanish vernal (“pertaining to spring; vernal”).
Compare typologically German Frühling (< früh), Slovene pomlȃd (< mlȃd).

## Easily confused with
- **viral** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vernal-vs-viral)
- **Verne** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vernal-vs-verne)
- **Vernon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vernal-vs-vernon)
- **Verona** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vernal-vs-verona)
- **vera** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vera-vs-vernal)
- **veal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/veal-vs-vernal)
- **varna** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/varna-vs-vernal)
- **Verma** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/verma-vs-vernal)
- **Verna** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/verna-vs-vernal)
- **verbal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/verbal-vs-vernal)

## Common misspellings (9)
`evrnal`, `venral`, `veranl`, `vernall`, `vernla`, `vernnal`, `verrnal`, `vrenal`, `vvernal`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/vernal