How to pronounce wale
Say it like WAYL. Wale 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 wale. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WAYL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wale 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 wale
American and British speakers say wale in essentially the same way: /weɪl/ in the US and /weɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: WAYL.
What does wale mean?
- A ridge or low barrier.
- A raised rib in knitted goods or fabric, especially corduroy.
- The texture of a piece of fabric.
- Something selected as being the best, preference; choice; choosing.
- To strike the skin in such a way as to produce a wale or welt.
- To beat a person, especially as punishment or out of anger.
- To give a surface a texture of wales or welts.
Where does wale come from?
The noun is from Middle English wāle (“planking, welt”), from Old English walu (“ridge, bank; rib, comb (of helmet); metal ridge on top of helmet; weal, mark of a blow”), from Proto-Germanic *waluz (“stick, root”), from Proto-Indo-European
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with wale
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of wale.
Words that sound like wale
Questions about saying wale
How do you pronounce wale?
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 wale?
Wale is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: WAYL.
Do Americans and Brits say wale 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 wale?
Wale sounds the same as wail, whale in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.