English pronunciation · Words Starting with D
Diurnal Pronunciation
Diurnal is pronounced dy-UR-nuhl, IPA /daɪˈɝnəl/.
dy-UR-nuhl
US /daɪˈɝnəl/ · UK /ˈdɪɜːnəl/
Syllables: dy · UR · nuhl (3 syllables, stress on syllable 2)
adjective: Happening during the day, or active in daytime rather than at night.
Audio for the American and British pronunciations plays on this page with JavaScript enabled.
Diurnal in a Sentence
- Most songbirds are diurnal.
- The readings follow a clear diurnal cycle.
- Diurnal temperature swings are wider inland.
Common Mispronunciations of Diurnal
Not DY-ur-nuhl
The middle syllable holds the beat, so the opening dy is short and quick.
Not dee-UR-nuhl
The first vowel is the long eye of die, from the Latin word for day.
Tip: Diurnal is the opposite of nocturnal, and the two share the same rhythm and the same ending.
More words starting with d · Every word in the pronunciation guide