modal

\mo.dal\

/\mo.dal\/ adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

The verdict

“modal” is an uncommon French word, ranked #52,838 in French word frequency and used as an adjective.

#52,838
frequency rank, French
5
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Qui se rapporte aux modes d'une substance.

Key facts for modal
PropertyValue
Headwordmodal
LanguageFrench
Part of speechAdjective
IPA\mo.dal\
Letters5
Frequency rank#52,838
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “modal” sits in French frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). modal lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The French entry for modal is 5 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as \mo.dal\. Corpus data places it at rank #52,838 in overall French word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No generated misspelling entries exist for modal in our index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

This entry's etymology isn't recorded, leaving phoneme-to-grapheme mapping as the best guide to its spelling rather than a borrowing history. The correct French form is modal, spelled M-O-D-A-L.

Definition

  1. 1
    Qui se rapporte aux modes d'une substance.
  2. 2
    Rapporté au sujet selon un mode déterminé (possibilité ou impossibilité, nécessité ou contingence). → voir modale, ellipse de proposition modale.
  3. 3
    Qui force une réponse avant de poursuivre.
  4. 4
    Qui est propre aux modes du verbe ou qui les caractérise.
  5. 5
    Relatif aux différents modes musicaux. Se dit aussi parfois d'une musique qui emploie d'autres échelles que l'échelle tonale.
  6. 6
    Relatif aux modes de transport.
  7. 7
    Qui a la fréquence la plus élevée.

This word in other languages

modal(English)modal(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 French corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "modal"?
"modal" is spelled M-O-D-A-L. The IPA pronunciation is \mo.dal\.
What does "modal" mean?
As an adjective, "modal" means: Qui se rapporte aux modes d'une substance.
How do you pronounce "modal"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "modal" is \mo.dal\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "modal" come from?
"modal" is a French word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “modal”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct French spelling is M-O-D-A-L - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as \mo.dal\ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more French words and confusable pairs in the same reference. French words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list