Yodel
/ˈjoʊ.dəl/noun
A style of singing with rapid, repeated changes between chest voice and falsetto, traditionally associated with Alpine music.
Did you know?The word entered English from German, and although its exact origin is uncertain, it’s tied to Alpine vocal traditions that functioned like long-distance signal calls across mountain valleys.
Etymological Timeline
Modern English
English
yodel
“A style of singing that rapidly alternates between chest voice and falsetto.”
19th Century
German
jodeln
“To sing in the Alpine yodel style.”
19th Century
German
Jodel
“A yodel; a yodeling song or vocal call.”
Earlier Germanic
Germanic
jodel-
“An expressive vocal form used in folk singing and mountain signaling.”