ideal
An idea, said with that extra L at the end.
Also called idee, idy, idear.
Updated September 24, 2026
ideal pronunciation
/eye-DEE-uhl/
Meaning
Same thing as idea. Folks in Kentucky, Appalachia, and other Southern pockets say ideal like it grew that L naturally. "I got an ideal" means a thought or plan, not "perfect." Related spellings and sounds include idee, idy, and idear. Correcting it at the supper table just marks you as company.
How folks use it
- “Whose ideal was it to park the truck in the mud?”
- “I ain't got no ideal where he ran off to.”
Origin and etymology
Dialect pronunciation of idea with an intrusive L, common in the South, Appalachia, and parts of the Mid-Atlantic. Wayword Radio and dialect notes flag Kentucky especially for "I have no ideal." Related forms like idee and idear show up in Appalachian dictionaries. The L is a speech habit, not a different word from idea.
Frequently asked questions
Does ideal mean perfect here?
Not in this dialect use. Ideal is just how idea comes out.