How to pronounce el
Say it like EL. El 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 el. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
El pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of el
American and British speakers say el in essentially the same way: /ɛl/ in the US and /ɛl/ in the UK.
British respelling: EL.
What does el mean?
- angular distance above the horizon (especially of a celestial object)
- a railway that is powered by electricity and that runs on a track that is raised above the street level
Where does el come from?
From Middle English, from Old English el, from Latin el (the name of the letter L).
Words that rhyme with el
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of el.
Words that sound like el
Questions about saying el
How do you pronounce el?
Say EL. The American pronunciation is /ɛl/. In British English it is /ɛl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in el?
El is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: EL.
Do Americans and Brits say el the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɛl/ and the British form is /ɛl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as el?
El sounds the same as ell in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.