NYT Dictionary

VOCAL

/ˈvoʊ̯.kəl/
AdjectiveNounVO-calvo-cal · 2 syllablesGrade 3

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2024, 2025

Meaning

Of, pertaining to, or resembling the human voice or speech.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *wekʷ-der. Proto-Indo-European *wṓkʷs Proto-Italic *wōks Latin vōx Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin vōcālisbor. Middle English vocal English vocal Late Middle English vocal, borrowed from Latin vōcālis (“uttering a voice, sounding, speaking”), from vōx (“a voice, sound, tone”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix). Doublet of vowel and vocalis. Compare Old French vocal.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

sonantintonatedvoicedvocalicoralaudibleoutspokenloudspokenexpressive

Antonyms

inaudiblequietsilentvoicelessinstrumental

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles:

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