yodel
yodel Lexical Profile
yodel Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A form of singing or a vocal call characterized by rapid, repeated changes of pitch between the low-pitch chest register and the high-pitch head register or falsetto, traditionally associated with the Swiss and Austrian Alps.
"The clear sound of a traditional mountain yodel echoed across the steep valley."
• verb
To sing or call out with rapid, alternating shifts between the normal chest voice and a high-pitched falsetto.
"During the folk festival, performers in traditional attire began to yodel on the outdoor stage."
Word Nuance & Usage
In American English, the inflected forms are typically spelled with a single 'l' ('yodeled', 'yodeling'), whereas British English doubles the consonant ('yodelled', 'yodelling').
• Rhymes for yodel
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the early 19th century from German 'jodeln', a verb of imitative origin modeled on the syllable 'jo' (pronounced 'yo') used as an exclamation of joy among Alpine herders.