How to Pronounce Paternal

To pronounce "paternal", say PAT-ern-al — 3 syllables, IPA /pəˈtɜː(ɹ)nəl/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

paternal

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.

Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying paternal, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

Syllables

Letters

/pəˈtɜː(ɹ)nəl/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “paternal”

"paternal" has 3 syllables: pat-ern-al. It rhymes with infernal and diurnal, if that helps it stick.

What does paternal mean?

adjective

Of or pertaining to one's father, his genes, his relatives, or his side of a family
“paternal grandfather”
Fatherly; behaving as or characteristic of a father.

Antonyms

maternal

Hear “paternal” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with paternal

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

infernal diurnal eternal kernel nocturnal maternal internal external fraternal sternal journal urnal

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "paternal"?▾

"Paternal" has 3 syllables: pat · ern · al.

What is the IPA transcription of "paternal"?▾

The IPA transcription of "paternal" is /pəˈtɜː(ɹ)nəl/.

What does "paternal" mean?▾

Paternal: Of or pertaining to one's father, his genes, his relatives, or his side of a family

Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?

Open “paternal” in the full dictionary →