yodel

1 of 2

verb

yo·​del ˈyō-dᵊl How to pronounce yodel (audio)
yodeled or yodelled; yodeling or yodelling ˈyōd-liŋ How to pronounce yodel (audio)
ˈyō-dᵊl-iŋ
Synonyms of yodelnext

intransitive verb

: to sing by suddenly changing from a natural voice to a falsetto and back
also : to shout or call in a similar manner

transitive verb

: to sing (a tune) by yodeling
yodeler
ˈyōd-lər How to pronounce yodel (audio)
ˈyō-dᵊl-ər
noun

yodel

2 of 2

noun

: a song or refrain sung by yodeling
also : a yodeled shout or cry

Examples of yodel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Try turning on the subtitles and sing and yodel away as a family. — Karen Cicero, Parents, 5 Mar. 2026 In a now-viral clip, Carpenter overheard someone from the crowd trilling during her set for Weekend 1 and asked if the audience member was yodeling. — Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
Roan leans in here with feeling, drenching the song in fiddle and even getting close to a yodel in her vocal delivery. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025 Whitman’s howling yodel and clean-cut persona were a far cry from the sound Presley had been rehearsing. — Joe Sills, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for yodel

Word History

Etymology

Verb

German jodeln

First Known Use

Verb

1827, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1844, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of yodel was in 1827

Rhymes for yodel

See All Rhymes for yodel

Browse Nearby Words

yod
yodel
yodeler
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Yodel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yodel. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

yodel

verb
yo·​del
ˈyōd-ᵊl
yodeled or yodelled; yodeling or yodelling
ˈyōd-liŋ, 
-ᵊl-iŋ
: to sing while frequently going back and forth between the range of one's natural voice and a higher range
also : to shout or call in this manner
yodel noun
yodeler
ˈyōd-lər, 
-ᵊl-ər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on yodel

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for yodel

Nglish: Translation of yodel for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about yodel

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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