vocal

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vocal

/ˈvəʊ̯.kəl/ UK
[ˈvəʊ̯.kl̩] UK
/ˈvoʊ̯.kəl/ US
/ˈvɔʊ̯.kəl/ US
[ˈvoʊ̯.kl̩] US
[ˈvɔʊ̯.kl̩] US
/ˈvəʉ̯.kəl/ Australia
[ˈvəʉ̯.kl̩] Australia

Rhymes with -əʊkəl

Where it comes 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.

adjective more vocal · most vocal

Of, pertaining to, or resembling the human voice or speech. vocal problems
Used in the production of speech sounds. vocal apparatus
Relating to, composed or arranged for, or sung by the human voice.
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.
Similar: sonant, intonated, voiced
Synonym of vocalic.
Similar: vocalic
Uttered or modulated by the voice; expressed in words. vocal melody, vocal prayer, vocal worship
Similar: oral, audible · Opposite: inaudible, quiet, silent, voiceless
Expressing opinions or feelings freely, loudly, or insistently. The protesters were very vocal in their message to the mayor.
Similar: oral, audible, outspoken, loud · Opposite: inaudible, quiet, silent, voiceless
Having or exercising the power of producing voice, speech, or sound. To hill or valley, fountain, or fresh shade, Made vocal by my song.
Similar: oral, audible, spoken · Opposite: inaudible, quiet, silent, voiceless
Synonym of expressive.
Similar: oral, audible, expressive · Opposite: inaudible, quiet, silent, voiceless
Full of voices.
Similar: oral, audible, resounding · Opposite: inaudible, quiet, silent, voiceless

noun vocals

A vocal sound; specifically, a purely vocal element of speech, unmodified except by resonance; a vowel or a diphthong; a tonic element; a tonic.
A part of a piece of music that is sung. Best cuts: "The Evil Dude," "Kung Fu, Too!" "Mama Love," "New Orleans" (with a punchy vocal by Teresa Brewer).
Similar: song
A musical performance involving singing.
Similar: song
A man in the Roman Catholic Church who has a right to vote in certain elections.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: voiced, spoken, communicatory, outspoken, communicative, loud, sung, voice, vowel, vocalization, speech, verbal, eloquent, articulate, expressive, audible

Translations

Every language

adj of or pertaining to the voice or speech

Español	vocal
हिन्दी	स्वर svar
Kiswahili	mwimbaji
Português	vocal, vocálico
Français	vocal
Deutsch	stimmhaft, stimmlich
Italiano	vocale
Ελληνικά	φωνητικός fonitikós
Русский	вока́льный vokálʹnyj, голосово́й golosovój
Tiếng Việt	nói to tiếng
العربية	صَوْتِيّ ṣawtiyy

adj uttered or modulated by the voice

Español	vocal
日本語	有言の yūgen no
Português	vocal
Deutsch	mündlich
Русский	вока́льный vokálʹnyj

adj characterized by voice or tone produced in the larynx

한국어	보컬 부분 bokeol bubun
Português	vocálico
Русский	гла́сный glásnyj
Tiếng Việt	nói lớn tiếng

adj expressing opinions or feelings freely

日本語	有言の yūgen no, 物言う monoiu
Deutsch	lautstark, laut
Русский	гро́мкий grómkij, зву́чный zvúčnyj, шу́мный šúmnyj, крикли́вый kriklívyj
Tiếng Việt	nói lớn tiếng
עברית	קוֹלָנִי qolaní

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MLA

"vocal." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/vocal. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

vocal. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/vocal

Chicago

"vocal." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/vocal.

BibTeX

@misc{vocal_2026,
  title = {vocal},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/vocal},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}