How do you pronounce verbal?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˈvɜː.bəl/.

verbal

/ˈvɜː.bəl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.91 in modern English

Syllables: ver-bal
IPA: /ˈvɜː.bəl/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Of or relating to words.

adj

Concerned with the words, rather than the substance of a text.

adj

Consisting of words only.

adj

Expressly spoken rather than written; oral.

adj

Derived from, or having the nature of a verb.

adj

Used to form a verb.

adj

Capable of speech.

adj

Word for word.

Example Sentences

"We subjoin an engraving […] which will give the reader a far better notion of the structure than any verbal description could convey to the mind."
"It was not a verbal remark, but a proceeding in dumb-show"
"a verbal contract"
"a verbal testimony"
"You can't have verbal communication with a man in New South Wales, you know."
"I am not speaking of the verbal use of the term 'Fascist'. I am speaking of what I have seen in print."

Etymology

From Old French verbal, from Late Latin verbālis (“belonging to a word”). Equivalent to verb + -al.

Origin

Source language: Old French

Word Breakdown

Root: *werh₁-, verbal, verbālis
Suffix: verb

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈvɜː.bəl/
British English: /ˈvɜː.bəl/

Usage

Inflected Forms

verbals (plural) verbals (present, singular) verbaling (US, participle) verballing (UK, participle) verbaled (US, participle) verbaled (US, past) verballed (UK, participle) verballed (UK, past)

Derived Forms

anteverbal antiverbal averbal biverbal coverbal cruciverbal extraverbal hyperverbal interverbal intraverbal monoverbal nonverbal

Phrases

non-verbal leak verbal adjective verbal assault verbal authority verbal communication verbal complement verbal constipation verbal diarrhea

Frequently Paired Words

verbalism verbality verbiage

Synonyms

wordish rhematic literal verbatim non-finite verb lectic prolix

Antonyms

substantive preverbal non-verbal implied unsaid

Rhymes With

non-verbal herbal nonverbal burble verble gerbil dyirbal wirble