3 syllables: ab, nor, mal. Stress on nor.
ab-NAWR-muhl
/æˈbnɔɹməl/
abnormal is pronounced ab-NAWR-muhl (/æˈbnɔɹməl/). It has three syllables (ab-nor-mal), with the stress on "nor". Abnormal describes something deviating from the normal or typical; it signals irregularity or unusual characteristics rather than mere unusualness. In medical and scientific contexts it often designates an anomaly or departure from expected norms. The term conveys a sense of exception, sometimes carrying a neutral to slightly negative connotation depending on context and severity.
Abnormal describes something deviating from the normal or typical; it signals irregularity or unusual characteristics rather than mere unusualness. In medical and scientific contexts it often designates an anomaly or departure from expected norms. The term conveys a sense of exception, sometimes carrying a neutral to slightly negative connotation depending on context and severity.
- You often flatten the second syllable; ensure the /ɔː/ is long and clearly pronounced, not shortened to /ɔ/. - You may run the final consonant into the preceding syllable, producing /nɔːrməl/ or /nɔːrml/; insert a light separation before the final /məl/ to keep syllable integrity. - Some speakers skip the stress shift, saying /æbˈnɔːr.məl/ with a weak second syllable; practice the exact stress pattern to avoid a flat pronunciation. - In connected speech, you might add extra r-coloring or reduce the final /l/; keep the final /l/ crisp for clarity.
"The test results showed abnormal levels of enzymes in the blood."
"Her gait was abnormal, prompting a closer medical examination."
"Researchers noted abnormal patterns in the data that required further analysis."
Pronounce as /abˈnɔːrməl/ in US English, with primary stress on the second syllable. The first syllable sounds like “ab” as in about, then “nor” with a long o, followed by “mal” with a schwa or reduced vowel. Keep the r sound light and not intrusive in non-rhotic accents; in rhotic variants you’ll hear a more pronounced /r/ before the final /məl/. IPA references: US /æbˈnɔːr.məl/, UK /ˌæbˈnɔː.mə/; Australian similar to UK with slight vowel simplified final /əl/.
Two frequent errors: 1) Misplacing stress by emphasizing the first syllable instead of the second: remember the primary stress falls on the second syllable: /ˌæbˈnɔːr.məl/. 2) Not fully finishing the /ɔː/ vowel in the second syllable, yielding a clipped ‘nor- mal’ sound. Ensure you maintain the long o in /nɔːr/ and finish with a clear /məl/; keep the final syllable unstressed but audible.
US pronunciation: /æbˈnɔːr.məl/ with rhotic /r/ in most dialects and a clear /ɔː/ in the second syllable. UK pronunciation: /ˌæbˈnɔː.məl/ tends to be non-rhotic, with a shorter post-vocalic /ə/ in some speakers; the second syllable retains /ɔː/ while the final /l/ is lighter. Australian: typically /æbˈnɔː.məl/ similar to UK but often with a flatter vowel quality and a slightly weaker final /l/; rhoticity tends to be less pronounced. Real-time listening to native speakers is recommended using Forvo or YouGlish.
The challenge lies in the two-syllable rhythm with secondary stress patterns and the morphology: it begins with a stressed second syllable in some contexts (/ˌæbˈnɔːr.məl/) and requires careful handling of the /ɔː/ vowel followed by an /r/ sound before the final /məl/. The final -mal cluster also demands a clean alveolar /l/ that often blends in connected speech. Practice by slowing down and isolating the /nɔːr/ and /məl/ segments.
There is no silent letter in abnormal, but the word hinges on correct syllable stress and vowel duration. The most noticeable feature is the strong second-syllable stress /ˈnɔːr/ and the long vowel /ɔː/ before /r/; mispronouncing it as /æbˈnɔːməl/ with an 'm' before the final vowel can blur the intended structure. Focus on maintaining a distinct /nɔːr/ cluster before the final /məl/.
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- US: Rhotic emphasis on /r/; the second syllable /nɔːr/ has a clear rhotic nucleus. Maintain a rounded lip position for /ɔː/ and let the /r/ color influence the following schwa lightly before /məl/. - UK: Often non-rhotic; you may hear a shorter /ə/ in the final syllable; keep /ɔː/ long in the stressed syllable, with a softer /l/. - AU: Similar to UK, with slightly broader vowel qualities; keep /ɔː/ long and the second syllable stressed, but relax the final /l/ more naturally. - IPA cues: US /æbˈnɔːr.məl/, UK /ˌæbˈnɔː.məl/, AU /æbˈnɔː.məl/; focus on consistent /ɔː/ and a clear /r/ before the final syllable in rhotic varieties.
Abnormal comes from the late Latin abnormalis, from the prefix ab- meaning 'away from' + norma 'rule, standard'. The term norma itself traces to Latin, where it denoted a carpenter’s square or a standard of measure. In English, abnormal appeared in the 16th century but gained widespread medical and scientific use in the 19th century as disciplines began to formalize deviations from the norm. The combination of the prefix ab- and norma reinforced the sense of stepping away from a conventional standard. Over time, abnormal broadened into general usage beyond medicine, retaining its core sense of deviation from what is typical, sometimes carrying value judgments depending on context and tone. First known use in English literature appears in legal and scientific texts exploring anomalous conditions, then expanding into everyday language as a descriptor for anything that diverges from expected patterns.
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Words that rhyme with "abnormal"
-mal sounds
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