Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense yodels, present participle yodelling, past tense, past participle yodelledregional note: in AM, use yodeling, yodeled
verb
When someone yodels, they sing normal notes with very high quick notes in between.
You haven't lived till you've learned how to yodel at a tea dance in a mountain hut! [VERB]
yodellinguncountable noun
Switzerland isn't all cow bells and yodelling, you know.
yodel in British English
(ˈjəʊdəl)
noun
1.
an effect produced in singing by an abrupt change of register from the chest voice to falsetto, esp in popular folk songs of the Swiss Alps
verbWord forms: -dels, -delling, -delledWord forms: US-dels, -deling or -deled
2.
to sing (a song) in which a yodel is used
Derived forms
yodeller (ˈyodeller) or US yodeler (ˈyodeler)
noun
yodelling (ˈyodelling) or US yodeling (ˈyodeling)
noun
Word origin
C19: from German jodeln, of imitative origin
yodel in American English
(ˈjoʊdəl)
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈyodeled or ˈyodelled, ˈyodeling or ˈyodelling
1.
to sing with abrupt alternating changes between the normal chest register and the falsetto
noun
2.
the act or sound of yodeling
3.
a song or refrain sung in this way
Derived forms
yodeler (ˈyodeler)
noun or ˈyodeller
Word origin
Ger jodeln
Examples of 'yodel' in a sentence
yodel
Woodlarks breed in some of the open areas and sing their sweet yodelling song.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He was delighted to hear a cheery yodel.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The drakes make a ghostly yodelling cry that can be heard coming across the water from far away.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It was carnival time, yodelling filled the air and party poppers were flecking the whiteness with multicoloured confetti.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The yodel is ancient and, by definition, without text.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The Scots liken it to bagpipe music, other people call it yodelling.