How to pronounce ail
Say it like AYL. Ail is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- AYL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ail pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- AYLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of ail
American and British speakers say ail in essentially the same way: /eɪl/ in the US and /eɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: AYL.
What does ail mean?
- To cause to suffer; to trouble, afflict. (Now chiefly in interrogative or indefinite constructions.)“Have some chicken soup. It's good for what ails you.”
- To be ill; to suffer; to be troubled.
- The awn of barley or other types of corn.
Where does ail come from?
Inherited from Middle English eilen, from Old English eġlan, eġlian (“to trouble, afflict”), from Proto-West Germanic *aglijan, from Proto-Germanic *aglijaną (“to trouble, vex”), cognate with Gothic 𐌰𐌲𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (agljan, “to distress”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with ail
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ail.
Words that sound like ail
Questions about saying ail
How do you pronounce ail?
Say AYL. The American pronunciation is /eɪl/. In British English it is /eɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ail?
Ail is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: AYL.
Do Americans and Brits say ail the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /eɪl/ and the British form is /eɪl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as ail?
Ail sounds the same as ale in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.