How to pronounce trial
Say it like TRY-ul. Trial has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TRY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce trial. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TRY
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Trial pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TRYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of trial
American and British speakers say trial in essentially the same way: /ˈtraɪəl/ in the US and /ˈtraɪəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: TRY-ul.
What does trial mean?
- the act of testing something“in the experimental trials the amount of carbon was measured separately”“he called each flip of the coin a new trial”
- trying something to find out about it“a sample for ten days free trial”“a trial of progesterone failed to relieve the pain”
- the act of undergoing testing“he survived the great test of battle”“candidates must compete in a trial of skill”
Where does trial come from?
From Middle English trial, triall, from Anglo-Norman trial, triel, from trier (“to pick out, cull”) + -al.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with trial
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of trial.
Questions about saying trial
How do you pronounce trial?
Say TRY-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈtraɪəl/. In British English it is /ˈtraɪəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in trial?
Trial has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TRY). Broken into parts: TRY · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say trial the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtraɪəl/ and the British form is /ˈtraɪəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.