How to pronounce frail
Say it like FRAYL. Frail 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 frail. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FRAYL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Frail pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FRAYLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of frail
American and British speakers say frail in essentially the same way: /freɪl/ in the US and /freɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: FRAYL.
What does frail mean?
- Easily broken physically; not firm or durable; liable to fail and perish.
- Weak; infirm.
- In an infirm state leading one to be easily subject to disease or other health problems, especially regarding the elderly.
- A girl.
- To play a stringed instrument, usually a banjo, by picking with the back of a fingernail.
Where does frail come from?
From Middle English frele, fraill, from Old French fraile, from Latin fragilis.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with frail
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of frail.
Questions about saying frail
How do you pronounce frail?
Say FRAYL. The American pronunciation is /freɪl/. In British English it is /freɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in frail?
Frail is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: FRAYL.
Do Americans and Brits say frail the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /freɪl/ and the British form is /freɪl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.