What does nasal mean?
Word: Nasal
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Nasal means to do with the nose. A nasal voice sounds as if it is coming through the nose.
How do you spell nasal?
Syllables: na - sal
Tricky part: The s is said like a z, but it is still spelt with an s.
Watch out for: nazal, naisal
Memory tip: Nose and nasal both have an s that buzzes like a z.
Nasal in a sentence
Example 1: A cold made my voice sound nasal for a week.
Example 2: Some singers have a slightly nasal voice.
Example 3: The doctor checked my nasal bones after I bumped into the door.
Fun Fact
The sounds m, n and ng are called nasal sounds, because air goes out through the nose when you say them. Hold your nose and try to hum.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Probe
Find the misspelt word in the sentence and choose its meaning:
During his cold, the doctor gave my brother some nasel drops and told him to drink plenty of warm water.
a) small round amounts of a liquid
b) meant to be put into the nostrils
c) slightly hot, in a pleasant way
d) a person trained to treat people who are ill
Show answer
b) meant to be put into the nostrils. Nasel should end in al; nasal drops are put into the nose.
Sound Check
Which word does not rhyme with nasal?
a) easel
b) appraisal
c) hazel
d) phrasal
Show answer
a) easel. Easel has the long ee sound, while hazel, phrasal and appraisal share the ay sound of nasal.
Word Champ
Read the statements and choose the correct option:
1. Your nostrils lead into your nasal passages. 2. An optician tests people's eyesight and sells glasses. 3. A surgeon is a doctor who performs operations.
a) only 1
b) both 1 and 2
c) both 2 and 3
d) all three are correct
Show answer
d) all three are correct. Each statement is spelt and explained correctly, so none of them is false.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Dr Rao treats nasal problems. Which patient is she most likely to see?
a) a boy with a blocked nose
b) a woman with a sprained ankle
c) a man with a cut finger
d) a girl with a sore knee
Show answer
a) a boy with a blocked nose
2. A child whose voice suddenly sounds nasal most likely has ____.
a) a sunburn
b) a cold
c) new shoes
d) a sore toe
Show answer
b) a cold
