What does yodel mean?
Yodel is both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it names a vocal call that moves rapidly between high and low notes, often with abrupt changes in pitch, a sound strongly associated with Alpine mountain traditions. As a verb, to yodel means to make such a call, whether singing, chanting, or using the voice in a playful imitation of it. The word can describe a genuine regional performance, but it is also widely used in lighthearted contexts to describe an exaggerated, high-pitched cry or a theatrical shout. In British and American English, the basic spelling is yodel; the forms yodeling and yodeler are usual in American usage, while yodelling and yodeller are common in British usage. A yodel is memorable because it turns ordinary speech into a sequence of clearly articulated pitches, allowing the voice to carry across an open landscape. The term can therefore describe both a traditional vocal technique and a modern comic exaggeration, without implying that every use has a specifically Alpine origin.
A vocal call that rapidly alternates between high and low notes, traditionally associated with Alpine Europe.
"A distant yodel drifted down from the valley."
Also used humorously for an exaggerated cry or shout.
To sing or call with rapidly alternating high and low notes.
"The villagers yodeled to announce the festival."
The present participle is spelled yodeling in American English and yodelling in British English.
The standard plural of the noun is yodels.
"Their yodels echoed between the cliffs."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does yodel come from?
English borrowed yodel from German in the 19th century; German uses Jodel for the call and jodeln for the act of yodeling. The German forms are generally considered imitative in origin, reflecting the characteristic rising and falling contour of the vocal call.
Related word forms
How yodel is actually used
The word can refer to a traditional Alpine vocal technique, but it is also commonly used in casual or humorous contexts for an exaggerated cry or theatrical shout. American usage generally favors yodeling and yodeler, while British usage commonly uses yodelling and yodeller.