How to pronounce wassail
Say it like WAH-sayl. Wassail has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce wassail. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WAH
- sayl
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wassail pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- saylKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of wassail
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: WOS-ayl.
What does wassail mean?
- A toast to health, usually on a festive occasion.
- The beverage served during a wassail, especially one made of ale or wine flavored with spices, sugar, roasted apples, etc.
- Revelry.
- To toast, to drink to the health of another.“The next morning he much regretted the gusto with which he had wassailed the night before.”
- To drink wassail.
- To go from house to house at Christmastime, singing carols.
Where does wassail come from?
From Middle English wassail, from Old Norse ves heill (“be healthy!”), from the imperative of vesa (“to be”) + heill (“healthy”).
Questions about saying wassail
How do you pronounce wassail?
Say WAH-sayl. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɑseɪl/. In British English it is /ˈwɒseɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wassail?
Wassail has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WAH). Broken into parts: WAH · sayl.
Is wassail pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈwɒseɪl/ (WOS-ayl).