How to pronounce mail
Say it like MAYL. Mail 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 mail. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MAYL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mail pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MAYLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of mail
American and British speakers say mail in essentially the same way: /meɪl/ in the US and /meɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: MAYL.
What does mail mean?
- the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service
- the system whereby messages are transmitted via the post office“the mail handles billions of items every day”“he works for the United States mail service”
- a conveyance that transports the letters and packages that are conveyed by the postal system
- send via the postal service“I'll mail you the check tomorrow”
- cause to be directed or transmitted to another place“send me your latest results”“I'll mail you the paper when it's written”
Where does mail come from?
From Middle English male, from Anglo-Norman male, Old French male (“bag, wallet”), from Frankish *malha (“bag”), from Proto-Germanic *malhō (“bag, pouch”), from Proto-Indo-European *molko- (“leather pouch”).
Words that rhyme with mail
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mail.
Words that sound like mail
Questions about saying mail
How do you pronounce mail?
Say MAYL. The American pronunciation is /meɪl/. In British English it is /meɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mail?
Mail is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: MAYL.
Do Americans and Brits say mail the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /meɪl/ and the British form is /meɪl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as mail?
Mail sounds the same as male in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.