How to Pronounce Ail

To pronounce "ail", say AIL — one syllable, IPA /eɪl/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

ail

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

3

Letters

/eɪl/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “ail”

"ail" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with wail and gale, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: ale — easy to mix up when writing.

What does ail mean?

noun

  1. An ailment; trouble; illness.

verb

  1. To cause to suffer; to trouble, afflict. (Now chiefly in interrogative or indefinite constructions.)

    “Have some chicken soup. It's good for what ails you.”

  2. To be ill; to suffer; to be troubled.

Hear “ail” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with ail

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

wailgaleavailfrailassailtravailprevailentailstaleunveilbalequail

Related words

painafflicttroublegarlicachesuffersickenall

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "ail"?▾

"Ail" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "ail"?▾

The IPA transcription of "ail" is /eɪl/.

What does "ail" mean?▾

Ail: An ailment; trouble; illness.

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