How to pronounce jail
Say it like JAYL. Jail 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 jail. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JAYL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Jail pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JAYLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of jail
American and British speakers say jail in essentially the same way: /dʒeɪl/ in the US and /dʒeɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: JAYL.
What does jail mean?
- a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)
- lock up or confine, in or as in a jail“The suspects were imprisoned without trial”“the murderer was incarcerated for the rest of his life”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with jail
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of jail.
Words that sound like jail
Questions about saying jail
How do you pronounce jail?
Say JAYL. The American pronunciation is /dʒeɪl/. In British English it is /dʒeɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in jail?
Jail is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: JAYL.
Do Americans and Brits say jail the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dʒeɪl/ and the British form is /dʒeɪl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as jail?
Jail sounds the same as gaol in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.