vocal
vo·cal/ˈvoʊ̯.kəl/adjective, noun
vocal is spelled V-O-C-A-L: 5 letters and 2 syllables (vo·cal). It appears 14 times per million words in written English, the 5,496th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, vocal means “Of, pertaining to, or resembling the human voice or speech” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in vocal?
| Letters | 5: V-O-C-A-L |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: vo·cal |
| In writing | 14 times per million words; the 5,496th 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; 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 vocal?
Vocal appears 14 times per million words in written English, the 5,496th 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 vocal?
- UK /ˈvəʊ̯.kəl/
- UK [ˈvəʊ̯.kl̩]
- US /ˈvoʊ̯.kəl/
Vocal has 2 syllables, split vo·cal in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Mélange_a_trois-vocal.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with vocal?
3 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as vocal from its last stressed vowel (/oʊkəl/):
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 vocal
- more vocal comparative
- most vocal superlative
- vocals plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does vocal mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Of, pertaining to, or resembling the human voice or speech.
vocal problems
- 2
Used in the production of speech sounds.
vocal apparatus
- 3
Relating to, composed or arranged for, or sung by the human voice.
- 4
Consisting of, or characterized by, voice, or tone produced in the larynx, which may be modified, either by resonance, as in the case of the vowels, or by obstructive action, as in certain consonants, such as v, l, etc., or by both, as in the nasals m, n, ng.
- 5
Synonym of vocalic.
- 6
Uttered or modulated by the voice; expressed in words.
vocal melody, vocal prayer, vocal worship
- 7
Expressing opinions or feelings freely, loudly, or insistently.
The protesters were very vocal in their message to the mayor.
- 8
Having or exercising the power of producing voice, speech, or sound.
noun
- 1
A vocal sound; specifically, a purely vocal element of speech, unmodified except by resonance; a vowel or a diphthong; a tonic element; a tonic.
- 2
A part of a piece of music that is sung.
- 3
A musical performance involving singing.
- 4
A man in the Roman Catholic Church who has a right to vote in certain elections.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Vocal in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | vocal |
| German | stimmhaft, stimmlich , mündlich , lautstark, laut |
| Portuguese | vocal, vocálico |
| Spanish | vocal |
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 vocal come from?
Late Middle English vocal, borrowed from Latin vōcālis (“uttering a voice, sounding, speaking”), from vōx (“a voice, sound, tone”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix). Doublet of vowel and vocalis. Compare Old French vocal.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).