how to pronounce ordeal

/ɔːɹˈdiːl/

audio example by a male speaker

audio example by a female speaker

the above transcription of ordeal is a detailed (narrow) transcription according to the rules of the International Phonetic Association; you can find a description of each symbol by clicking the phoneme buttons in the secction below.

ordeal is pronounced in two syllables

press buttons with phonetic symbols to learn how to precisely pronounce each sound of ordeal

1.

ɔː

2.

iː

example pitch curve for pronunciation of ordeal

test your pronunciation of ordeal

press the "test" button to check how closely you can replicate the pitch of a native speaker in your pronunciation of ordeal

video examples of ordeal pronunciation

An example use of ordeal in a speech by a native speaker of american english:

“… but the ordeal earned him a three-year …”

meanings of ordeal

noun:

The poisonous ordeal bean or Calabar bean.
A trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test (such as ducking in water), divine authority deciding the guilt of the accused.
A painful or trying experience.

ordeal frequency in english - C2 level of CEFR

the word ordeal occurs in english on average 4.7 times per one million words; this frequency warrants it to be in the study list for C2 level of language mastery according to CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference.