vocal
gb/vˈoʊkəl/ us/vˈoʊkəl/
B2
English
~ 6700
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
expressing strong opinions openly
saying what you think in a strong and clear way, especially in public
Usage pattern:
[someone] is vocal about [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "vocal" with "verbal". "Vocal" here means strongly expressing your opinions, often by speaking loudly or clearly, while "verbal" simply means using words (spoken or written). For example, say "a vocal critic" (strongly speaks out), not "a verbal critic".
Synonyms
outspoken (often slightly stronger and sometimes more negative, suggesting someone talks very directly)
Antonyms
silent (describes someone who does not speak up or express opinions)
Collocations
vocal critic
|vocal opponent
|vocal supporter
|be vocal about
|increasingly vocal
|remain vocal
Themes
communication
|politics
|social
|relationships
Examples
- She has been a vocal critic of the new law.
- Parents were vocal about their concerns at the meeting.
- The senator is one of the most vocal opponents of the proposal.
- Environmental groups are becoming increasingly vocal on climate issues.
- He remained vocal in his support for workers' rights.
Learner examples
- Students were vocal about the changes at school.
- My uncle is very vocal in political discussions.
- Many people are vocal against higher taxes.
- She is a vocal supporter of animal rights.
- The fans were vocal after the team lost.
adjective
B2
property
2
relating to the human voice
about the human voice, especially when someone speaks or makes sounds
Usage pattern:
[something] is a vocal [feature/ability]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "vocal" when they mean "oral" or "spoken" for exams or presentations. Use "oral" for tests or reports that are spoken (e.g. "oral exam"), and "vocal" when you are talking about the voice itself or its sounds (e.g. "vocal cords", "vocal health").
Synonyms
spoken (focuses on words that are said, while "vocal" can refer more generally to the voice or sound it makes)
Antonyms
silent (describes the absence of voice or sound)
Collocations
vocal cords
|vocal sound
|vocal abilities
|vocal expression
|vocal communication
|vocal strain
Themes
body
|communication
Examples
- Smoking can cause serious damage to your vocal cords.
- The baby’s first vocal sounds made everyone smile.
- Teachers often suffer from vocal strain after long days of talking.
- The therapist encouraged him to find a stronger vocal expression of his feelings.
- Some animals use complex vocal communication to warn each other of danger.
Learner examples
- He hurt his vocal cords by shouting too much.
- The singer did some exercises to warm up his vocal muscles.
- Children start to make vocal sounds before they can speak words.
- Her illness changed her vocal quality for a few weeks.
- Good vocal health is important for teachers.
adjective
B2
property
3
relating to singing or sung music
about singing or music that is sung, not just played by instruments
Usage pattern:
[someone] gives a vocal performance
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with the noun "vocals". Use the adjective "vocal" before a noun ("vocal performance", "vocal coach"), and use the noun "vocals" when you are talking about the singing part itself ("Her vocals are amazing").
Synonyms
sung (more specific to something that is actually sung; "vocal" can describe style, training, or technique around singing)
Antonyms
instrumental (describes music played only by instruments, with no singing)
Collocations
vocal performance
|vocal music
|vocal track
|vocal group
|vocal technique
|vocal coach
Themes
music
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- Her vocal performance in the final song was stunning.
- The album mixes instrumental and vocal tracks.
- He joined a small vocal group at college.
- She started taking vocal lessons at the age of ten.
- The competition focuses on vocal technique and control.
Learner examples
- She has very strong vocal skills.
- The band needs a new vocal coach.
- He gave a powerful vocal performance on stage.
- I prefer vocal music to instrumental music.
- The singer did some vocal warm-ups before the show.
Noun
B2
entity
4
the singing part in music
the singing part of a song or piece of music
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s vocals on [song]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "a vocals" with an article. In modern music English, "vocals" is usually plural and uncountable ("Her vocals are great"), or used in set phrases like "lead vocals". Use the countable noun "vocal" only in very specific professional music contexts (e.g. "a vocal track"), not for a person singing.
Synonyms
singing ("singing" is more general; "vocals" is often used in music talk for recorded or live singing in a song)
Antonyms
instrumental (refers to music with no singing, only instruments)
Collocations
lead vocals
|backing vocals
|strong vocals
|powerful vocals
|vocal track
|add vocals
Themes
music
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Examples
- Her vocals on this track are incredible.
- The band is looking for someone to do backing vocals.
- They recorded the drums first and added the vocals later.
- The live vocals sounded even better than the studio version.
- He is responsible for lead vocals and rhythm guitar in the group.
Learner examples
- Her vocals are very clear and strong.
- He sings lead vocals in the band.
- They added new vocals to the song.
- The backing vocals make the chorus sound bigger.
- This version is only the music, without vocals.
Grammar
Dictionary form
vocal
IPA
GB/vˈoʊkəl/
US/vˈoʊkəl/
Syllables & stress
vo - cal (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (vo)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: vocal
Noun
- Base: vocal
- Plural: vocals
Word family
Expressions
a vocal critic of
1/ə vˈoʊkəl kɹˈɪtɪk əv/
fixed phrase
person who loudly opposes something
someone who often and strongly says they do not like or do not agree with something
Examples
- She is a vocal critic of government corruption.
- Several scientists have become vocal critics of the new policy.
a vocal opponent of
1/ə vˈoʊkəl əpˈoʊnənt əv/
fixed phrase
person who strongly opposes something
someone who clearly and strongly says they are against something
Examples
- He has long been a vocal opponent of nuclear power.
- The mayor is a vocal opponent of the proposed tax increase.
a vocal supporter of
1/ə vˈoʊkəl səpˈɔɹtɚ əv/
fixed phrase
person who strongly supports something
someone who clearly and strongly says they are for something
Examples
- She is a vocal supporter of human rights.
- The actor has become a vocal supporter of climate action.
backing vocals
1/bˈækɪŋ vˈoʊkəlz/
fixed phrase
supporting singing behind lead voice
singing that supports the main singer, usually softer or in the background
Examples
- He provides backing vocals as well as playing bass.
- The chorus uses rich backing vocals to fill out the sound.
be vocal about
1/bˈi vˈoʊkəl əbˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
speak openly and strongly about something
to speak in a clear and strong way about what you think or feel about something
Examples
- Many employees are vocal about the need for better working conditions.
- She has always been vocal about her support for free education.
lead vocals
1/lˈid vˈoʊkəlz/
fixed phrase
main singer’s part in a song
the main singing part in a song, usually sung by one person in a band or group
Examples
- She sings lead vocals on most of the album.
- The guitarist also handles lead vocals for the band.
vocal coach
1/vˈoʊkəl kˈoʊt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
teacher who trains the voice
a teacher who helps people improve how they sing or use their voice
Examples
- The singer worked with a vocal coach to prepare for the tour.
- She became a vocal coach after years of performing on stage.
vocal cords
1/vˈoʊkəl kˈɔɹdz/
fixed phrase
folds in throat that make voice
the parts in your throat that move to make your voice when you speak or sing
Examples
- Shouting too much can damage your vocal cords.
- The doctor said his vocal cords were inflamed.
vocal group
1/vˈoʊkəl ɡɹˈup/
fixed phrase
music group that sings
a group of people who sing together, sometimes with no instruments or with a band
Examples
- He sings in a local vocal group.
- The 1960s produced many famous vocal groups.
vocal majority
1/vˈoʊkəl məd͡ʒˈɔɹəti/
fixed phrase
large group that speaks loudly
a large number of people who clearly and strongly say what they think
Examples
- On this issue, there seems to be a vocal majority in favor of change.
- The mayor said he was listening to the vocal majority, not just a few critics.
vocal minority
1/vˈoʊkəl maɪnˈɔɹəti/
fixed phrase
small but loud group of people
a small number of people who speak very loudly or often about their opinion, making it seem more common than it is
Examples
- The policy was changed because of pressure from a vocal minority.
- A vocal minority on social media can sometimes shape public debate.
vocal performance
1/vˈoʊkəl pɚfˈɔɹməns/
fixed phrase
act of singing for an audience
a time when someone sings in front of people, for example at a concert or competition
Examples
- Her vocal performance impressed all the judges.
- The awards show featured a live vocal performance by several artists.
vocal range
1/vˈoʊkəl ɹˈeɪnd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
notes someone can sing
all the musical notes, from low to high, that a person can sing well
Examples
- Her vocal range covers more than three octaves.
- The song was written to show off his impressive vocal range.
vocal training
1/vˈoʊkəl tɹˈeɪnɪŋ/
fixed phrase
lessons and practice for the voice
lessons and practice that help someone use their voice or sing better
Examples
- She has had years of vocal training.
- Proper vocal training can greatly improve your singing technique.
vocal warm-up
1/vˈoʊkəl wˈɔɹm ˈʌp/
fixed phrase
exercises to prepare the voice
short exercises you do with your voice before you sing or speak a lot, to get your voice ready
Examples
- The choir did a quick vocal warm-up before going on stage.
- A good vocal warm-up can help prevent strain.