How to pronounce bale
Say it like BAYL. Bale is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- BAYL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bale 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 bale
American and British speakers say bale in essentially the same way: /beɪl/ in the US and /beɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAYL.
What does bale mean?
- Evil, especially considered as an active force for destruction or death.
- Suffering, woe, torment.
- A rounded bundle or package of goods in a cloth cover, and corded for storage or transportation.
- A bundle of compressed fibers (especially hay, straw, cotton, or wool), compacted for shipping and handling and bound by twine or wire.
- A measurement of hay equal to 10 flakes. Approximately 70-90 lbs (32-41 kg).
- To wrap into a bale.
Where does bale come from?
Cognate with Low German bal- (“bad, ill”), Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐌻𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌽𐍃 (balweins, “torture”), Old High German balo (“destruction”), Old Norse bǫl (“disaster”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with bale
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bale.
Words that sound like bale
Questions about saying bale
How do you pronounce bale?
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 bale?
Bale is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BAYL.
Do Americans and Brits say bale 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 bale?
Bale sounds the same as bail in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.