2 syllables: Caud, al. Stress on Caud.
KAH-duhl
/ˈkɑdəl/
Caudal is pronounced KAH-duhl (/ˈkɑdəl/). It has two syllables (Caud-al), with the stress on "Caud". Caudal refers to the tail end or posterior region of an organism or structure. In anatomy, it commonly describes positions toward the lower posterior body or tail; in zoology, caudal can indicate structures related to the tail. The term is used across medicine, biology, and comparative anatomy to denote location rather than function.
nounCaudal refers to the tail end or posterior region of an organism or structure. In anatomy, it commonly describes positions toward the lower posterior body or tail; in zoology, caudal can indicate structures related to the tail. The term is used across medicine, biology, and comparative anatomy to denote location rather than function.
- You might flatten the /ɔː/ to a shorter /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ in quick speech. Keep the long back vowel steady, not reduced to a short vowel. - The second syllable often loses its vowel; ensure you ventilate a clear /ə/ plus /l/ so it’s /dəl/ rather than /dl/ or /dal/. - Final /l/ can become dark or darkened; aim for a lighter, alveolar touch and avoid vocalizing the /l/ too much. - Don’t rush; maintain stress on the first syllable and then transition smoothly to the /dəl/ without a heavy pause. Practice with slow, deliberate articulation first, then speed up.
How to Pronounce Caudal
"The caudal fin helps the fish steer and stabilize during swimming."
"A fracture near the caudal vertebrae requires careful imaging to assess damage."
"The caudal brain region in some species is connected to autonomic control."
Pronounce it as /ˈkɔː.dəl/ in General American, with first-syllable stress. The first vowel is a long open-mid back vowel /ɔː/ (similar to ‘or’ in British English). The second syllable is a quick, reduced /dəl/ where /d/ may lightly touch the alveolar ridge and the schwa is reduced. Tip: keep the tongue low-mid and back for /ɔː/ and finish with a light /l/. Audio reference: you can compare with medical diction sound libraries for consistent /ˈkɔː.dəl/.
Common errors include mispronouncing the second syllable as /dal/ without the vowel reduction, and treating /ɔː/ as a short /ɒ/ or /ɑ/. Some speakers also fuse /ˈkɔː/ into /ˈkoʊ/ or slip into /ˈkaudəl/ with an American /aʊ/ diphthong. To correct: emphasize the long /ɔː/ in the first syllable, keep /ə/ neutral in the second syllable, and clearly articulate /d/ before the final /l/.
US: /ˈkɔː.dəl/ with rhoticity; UK: /ˈkɔː.dəl/ and sometimes /ˈkɒː.dəl/ depending on speaker, non-rhotic tendencies keep the /r/ absent; AU: /ˈkɔː.dəl/ similar to UK/US but with broader vowels and more non-rhoticity tendencies in many speakers. Core is the long /ɔː/ in first syllable and a light /əl/ in the second; local vowels may shift slightly, yet the tailward posture remains consistent across varieties.
Difficulties stem from the long, back-open /ɔː/ vowel that can vary in height and length across dialects, and the second-syllable /əl/ which requires a clear, light /l/ after a schwa-like vowel. Learners may blend /d/ and /l/, or misplace the stress causing /kaʊ.dəl/ or /kɔ.dəl/. Another challenge is keeping the final /l/ light and not vocalized, especially in fast speech.
Caudal is stressed on the first syllable: /ˈkɔː.dəl/. The primary stress sits on /ˈkɔː/ and the second syllable is unstressed, reducing to /dəl/ with a light touch of the /l/. Maintain even delivery between syllables, with the emphasis on the first to preserve the term’s medical precision.
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- US: /ˈkɔː.dəl/ with a rhotic, but in careful speech you’ll hear a precise /ɔː/; the /ə/ in the second syllable is reduced. - UK: /ˈkɔː.dəl/ or /ˈkɒː.dəl/; the vowel is often broader and less rhoticity is present; the /l/ is clear at the end. - AU: /ˈkɔː.dəl/; vowels are typically stretched slightly and non-rhotic tendencies appear; keep the final /l/ light. IPA details: /ɔː/ length is critical; maintain a closed jaw position and avoid rounding the lips too much. - General tip: focus on keeping the first syllable open-back vowel long, and ensure a brief, soft secondary schwa in the second syllable.
Caudal comes from the Latin caudalis, meaning ‘toward the tail,’ from cauda ‘tail.’ The Latin cauda stems from Proto-Indo-European root *kad-/*gwa- indicating ‘to bend or tail-like structure.’ The term entered English via late Latin and scientific Latin usage, first appearing in anatomical literature to describe posterior aspects of organisms. Over time, caudal broadened to describe any tailward or tail-like location in zoology and embryology, becoming standard in anatomy, veterinary science, and comparative biology. Its usage intensified with advances in anatomical description in the 18th–19th centuries and remains a precise, position-based descriptor in modern medical and scientific discourse. While it originally signified a literal tail, in humans it often denotes a tail-like caudal region or tailbone area, especially in developmental and neuromuscular contexts. First known documented uses appear in classical anatomical texts and later in veterinary and zoological nomenclature, where caudal regions and structures were systematically categorized to distinguish them from cranial, rostral, and dorsal directions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Caudal" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Caudal"
-dal sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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