English pronunciation · Words Starting with I
Ideal Pronunciation
Ideal is pronounced eye-DEEL, IPA /aɪˈdil/.
eye-DEEL
US /aɪˈdil/ · UK /aɪˈdiəl/
Syllables: eye · DEEL (2 syllables, stress on syllable 2)
adjective and noun: Perfect for a purpose, or a standard of perfection worth aiming at.
Audio for the American and British pronunciations plays on this page with JavaScript enabled.
Ideal in a Sentence
- The cottage is ideal for two people.
- She never gave up on that ideal.
- Monday is not ideal, but it will do.
Common Mispronunciations of Ideal
Not EYE-deel
Adding the l to idea changes nothing about where the weight sits: it stays on DEE in both words.
Not i-DEEL
The word begins with the name of the letter I, a full eye, and not with the short i of ill.
Tip: American dictionaries give two beats, eye-DEEL, and British ones three, eye-DEE-uhl, which is why the word can sound like idea with an l added.
More words starting with i · Every word in the pronunciation guide