Word
tonal
US/ˈtoʊnəɫ/
UK/tˈəʊnəl/
Definition
adj. relating to the quality of a sound or the way a language uses pitch to change word meanings. It can also describe the general mood or style of a piece of writing or art.
adj. relating to the quality, pitch, or strength of a sound. In linguistics, it describes languages that use pitch to distinguish lexical meanings; in a broader aesthetic sense, it refers to the overall mood or color scheme of a work.
Examples
“The singer has a beautiful tonal quality to her voice.”
“Mandarin is a tonal language where the same sound can have different meanings depending on the pitch used.”
“The film's tonal shift from lighthearted comedy to psychological thriller in the second act left many audience members feeling deeply unsettled.”
Examples
simple
“The singer has a beautiful tonal quality to her voice.”
contextual
“Mandarin is a tonal language where the same sound can have different meanings depending on the pitch used.”
complex
“The film's tonal shift from lighthearted comedy to psychological thriller in the second act left many audience members feeling deeply unsettled.”
Usage
Often used attributively before nouns like 'language', 'quality', or 'shift'.
Real-World Examples
“The actors hit an impressively breakneck speed, but perform without tonal variation, making it hard to keep up.” “You're really exposed."
Ralph Fulton, the founder of Leamington Spa-based Playground Games, told me the 2027 reboot of the role-playing classic Fable had "two tonal pillars" - "Britishness" and "fairy tales".” Etymology
From tone + -al.
From Nahuatl tōnalli (“day, day sign”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 1
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/tonal