How to pronounce pail
Say it like PAYL. Pail 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 pail. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PAYL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pail pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PAYLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of pail
American and British speakers say pail in essentially the same way: /peɪl/ in the US and /peɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: PAYL.
What does pail mean?
- A vessel of wood, tin, plastic, etc., usually cylindrical and having a handle -- used especially for carrying liquids, for example water or milk; a bucket (sometimes with a cover).“The milkmaid carried a pail of milk in each hand.”
- A closed (covered) cylindrical shipping container.
Where does pail come from?
Alternatively from Old French paielle (“frying pan, warming pan; a liquid measure”), from Latin patella (“small pan, shallow dish, platter”), diminutive of patina (“broad shallow pan, stewpan”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with pail
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pail.
Words that sound like pail
Questions about saying pail
How do you pronounce pail?
Say PAYL. The American pronunciation is /peɪl/. In British English it is /peɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pail?
Pail is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PAYL.
Do Americans and Brits say pail the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /peɪl/ and the British form is /peɪl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as pail?
Pail sounds the same as pale in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.