Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

double modal

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.12 in modern English

Syllables: dou-ble -modal
IPA

17

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A sequence of two modal verbs, such as "might could", an impossible construction in standard English, but one used in some dialects, especially Southern US English.

Example Sentences

"The first instances of double modals date back to the seventeenth century."

Inflected Forms

double modals (plural)

Phrases

modal stacking

Frequently Paired Words

modal stacking

Synonyms

stacked modal

Questions

What does double modal mean?: A sequence of two modal verbs, such as "might could", an impossible construction in standard English, but one used in some dialects, especially Southern US English.

How to pronounce double modal

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “double modal”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “double modal” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.