How to pronounce bail
Say it like BAYL. Bail is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bail. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAYL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bail pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BAYLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of bail
American and British speakers say bail in essentially the same way: /beɪl/ in the US and /beɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAYL.
What does bail mean?
- (criminal law) money that must be forfeited by the bondsman if an accused person fails to appear in court for trial“the judge set bail at $10,000”“a $10,000 bond was furnished by an alderman”
- the legal system that allows an accused person to be temporarily released from custody (usually on condition that a sum of money guarantees their appearance at trial)“he is out on bail”
- release after a security has been paid
- deliver something in trust to somebody for a special purpose and for a limited period
- secure the release of (someone) by providing security
Where does bail come from?
From Middle English baille, from the Old French verb bailler (“to deliver or hand over”) and noun bail (“lease”), from Latin bāiulāre (“carry or bear”), from baiulus (“porter; steward”) (English: bailiff).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with bail
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bail.
Words that sound like bail
Questions about saying bail
How do you pronounce bail?
Say BAYL. The American pronunciation is /beɪl/. In British English it is /beɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bail?
Bail is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BAYL.
Do Americans and Brits say bail the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /beɪl/ and the British form is /beɪl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as bail?
Bail sounds the same as bale in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.