Phrase guide

modal particle

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A word class that indicates the mood of an utterance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From modal + particle, attested from the first half of the 19th century. Calque of German Modalpartikel.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 語氣助詞 /语气助词 (yǔqìzhùcí) — linguistic class
  • Chinese Mandarin: 語氣詞 /语气词 (yǔqìcí) — linguistic class
  • French: particule modale — linguistic class
  • German: Modalpartikel — linguistic class
  • German: Abtönungspartikel — linguistic class
  • Japanese: 心態詞 (shintaishi) — linguistic class
  • Korean: 양상소사 (yangsangsosa) — linguistic class
  • Swedish: modalpartikel — linguistic class
  • Vietnamese: từ ngữ khí — linguistic class
  • Vietnamese: ngữ khí từ — linguistic class