How to pronounce wail
Say it like WAYL. Wail 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 wail. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WAYL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wail pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WAYLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of wail
American and British speakers say wail in essentially the same way: /weɪl/ in the US and /weɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: WAYL.
What does wail mean?
- To cry out, as in sorrow or anguish.
- To weep, lament persistently or bitterly.
- To make a noise like mourning or crying.“The wind wailed and the rain streamed down.”
- A prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish.“She let out a loud, doleful wail.”
- Any similar sound as of lamentation; a howl.“The wail of snow-dark winter winds.”
- A sound made by emergency vehicle sirens, contrasted with "yelp" which is higher-pitched and faster.
Where does wail come from?
The verb is first attested in the intransitive sense; the transitive sense developed in mid-14ᵗʰ c..
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with wail
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of wail.
Words that sound like wail
Questions about saying wail
How do you pronounce wail?
Say WAYL. The American pronunciation is /weɪl/. In British English it is /weɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wail?
Wail is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: WAYL.
Do Americans and Brits say wail the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /weɪl/ and the British form is /weɪl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as wail?
Wail sounds the same as wale, whale in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.