How to pronounce horsetail
Say it like HORS-tayl. Horsetail has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HORS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce horsetail. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HORS
- tayl
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Horsetail pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HORSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- taylGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of horsetail
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HAWS-tayl.
What does horsetail mean?
- A tail of a horse.
- Any of various simple vascular plants, of the order Equisetales, that have hollow stems and produce spores.
- A Turkish standard denoting rank.“Commanders were distinguished by the number of horsetails carried before them. The sultan had seven, the grand vizier five, and the pashas three, two, or one.”
Where does horsetail come from?
From Middle English horsetaile, horstaile, equivalent to horse + tail.
Questions about saying horsetail
How do you pronounce horsetail?
Say HORS-tayl. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɔrsˌteɪl/. In British English it is /ˈhɔːsˌteɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in horsetail?
Horsetail has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HORS). Broken into parts: HORS · tayl.
Is horsetail pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈhɔːsˌteɪl/ (HAWS-tayl).