2 syllables: nor, mal. Stress on nor.
NAWR-muhl
/ˈnɔɹməl/
normal is pronounced NAWR-muhl (/ˈnɔɹməl/). It has two syllables (nor-mal), with the stress on "nor". Normal refers to what is standard, typical, or expected within a given context. It can describe conditions, behaviors, or states that conform to common or acceptable patterns, distinct from abnormalities. In daily use, it often signals a reference point or baseline for comparison and evaluation.
Normal refers to what is standard, typical, or expected within a given context. It can describe conditions, behaviors, or states that conform to common or acceptable patterns, distinct from abnormalities. In daily use, it often signals a reference point or baseline for comparison and evaluation.
- You might say NOR-mal instead of NOR-məl; keep the second syllable light and quick, with a reduced vowel before /l/. - Another pitfall is over-emphasizing the final /l/ (clear L) in rapid speech, which can make it sound unnatural. Practice a softer, near-silent /l/ or light /l/ depending on dialect. - A third habit is misplacing primary stress or letting it drift, leading to an uneven rhythm. Maintain strong first-syllable stress and a natural, shorter second syllable.
"In a medical setting, blood pressure readings have to fall within the normal range."
"The school emphasizes normal classroom behavior and attendance."
"What’s considered normal can vary across cultures and situations."
Pronounce as /ˈnɔːr.məl/ in US and UK English. Place primary stress on the first syllable: NOR-ml. The first vowel is a mid-open back rounded /ɔː/, followed by the rhotic /r/ in many dialects before the schwa-like second syllable. In Australian speech, the /ɔː/ may be slightly more open, and the final /l/ can be light or dark depending on the speaker. Listen to a model pronunciation to fine-tune the /ɔː/ quality and the linking between syllables.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying na-MOR-el) and flattening the /ɔː/ to a more open /a/ or a short /o/ sound, producing NOR-mul. Another frequent issue is linking or not linking the /r/ in American speakers, causing a weakened second syllable. Correct by emphasizing first-syllable stress, producing /ɔː/ as a long vowel, and ensuring the final /l/ is light or clear depending on dialect.
In US English, /ˈnɔːr.məl/ with rhotic /r/ and a clear, sometimes slightly dark /l/. UK English often has /ˈnɔː.məl/ with non-rhotic tendencies in some dialects, making the /r/ less prominent; vowel quality can be slightly tenser. Australian English typically features /ˈnɔː.məl/ with clear /l/ and a broader diphthong for /ɔː/, and a rhotic influence that varies by speaker. Listen to regional samples for subtle vowel length and quality differences.
Because it contains a tense mid-back vowel /ɔː/ that is sensitive to surrounding consonants, the rhotic /r/ in American varieties, and a final light/soft /l/ that can blur with preceding vowels if not timed correctly. The two-syllable rhythm also challenges English learners to keep primary stress on the first syllable while avoiding compression of the second syllable. Focus on a crisp stress, open-mid back vowel, and controlled final /l/ to master it.
Does the word have a silent letter? No. The second syllable’s 'al' is pronounced as /əl/ often reduced to a schwa before the final /l/ in casual speech (nor-məl). Speak clearly with a light, almost off-glide /ə/ in the second syllable when aiming for careful pronunciation; in fast speech you may hear a reduced /əl/ making it /ˈnɔː.məl/.
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The word normal comes from the Late Latin normalis, meaning ‘made according to a rule, standard.’ Normalis itself derives from norma, meaning ‘a carpenter’s square, rule, pattern’ used for measurement and inspection, from the Greek nomos or Latin norma (rule, carpenter’s square). In English, normal appeared in the 17th century in scientific and mathematical contexts to denote a standard or reference value. Over time it broadened to everyday meanings: conforming to a typical pattern, ordinary, or within acceptable limits. In psychology and sociology, it often functions as a normative term, indicating what is considered typical within a group, while also inviting critique for potentially enforcing conformity. The sense evolved from a concrete measuring instrument to abstract ideals of what is “normal.” First known use in a figurative sense in English dates to around the 1650s in works discussing norms and standards, before the modern everyday sense became prevalent in the 19th and 20th centuries as science and society expanded the concept of what qualifies as normal.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "normal" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "normal" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "normal"
-mal sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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