Late Middle English vocal, borrowed from Latin vōcālis, from vōx + -ālis.

• (RP) IPA: /ˈvəʊ.kəl/
• (America) IPA: /ˈvoʊ.kəl/

vocal

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

   vocal problems

   1. (anatomy) Used in the production of speech sounds.

      vocal apparatus

   2. (music) Relating to, composed or arranged for, or sung by the human voice.
   3. (phonetics) Consisting of, or characterized by, voice, or tone produced in the larynx, which may be modified, either by resonance, as in the case of the vowels, or by obstructive action, as in certain consonants, such as v, l, etc., or by both, as in the nasals m, n, ng.

      Synonyms: sonant, intonated, voiced

   4. (phonetics) Synonym of vocalic.
2. Uttered or modulated by the voice; expressed in words.

   vocal melody, vocal prayer, vocal worship

   Synonyms: oral, audible

   Antonyms: inaudible, quiet, silent, voiceless

   1. Expressing opinions or feelings freely, loudly, or insistently.

      The protesters were very vocal in their message to the mayor.

      Synonyms: outspoken, loud, audible

      Antonyms: inaudible, quiet, silent

   2. Having or exercising the power of producing voice, speech, or sound.

      Synonyms: spoken

      • 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC ↗, Canto XIX, page 32 ↗:

        The tide flows down, the wave again
        ⁠Is vocal in its wooded walls:
        ⁠My deeper anguish also falls,
        And I can speak a little then.

   3. Synonym of expressive.
   4. Full of voices.

      Synonyms: resounding

• French: vocal
• German: stimmhaft, stimmlich
• Italian: vocale
• Portuguese: vocal
• Russian: вока́льный
• Spanish: vocal

• Portuguese: vocálico
• Russian: гла́сный

• German: mündlich
• Portuguese: vocal
• Russian: вока́льный
• Spanish: vocal

• German: lautstark, laut
• Russian: гро́мкий

vocal (plural vocals)

1. (phonetics) A vocal sound; specifically, a purely vocal element of speech, unmodified except by resonance; a vowel or a diphthong; a tonic element; a tonic.

   Coordinate terms: subvocal, nonvocal

2. (music) A part of a piece of music that is sung.

   Synonyms: song

   Hyponyms: backup vocals, lead vocals

   1. (acting) A musical performance involving singing.
3. (Catholicism) A man in the Roman Catholic Church who has a right to vote in certain elections.