How to Pronounce Hangnail

To pronounce "hangnail", say HANGN-ail — 2 syllables, IPA /[heɪŋneɪ̯ɫ]/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

hangnail

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Accent

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Speed

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2

Syllables

8

Letters

/[heɪŋneɪ̯ɫ]/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “hangnail”

"hangnail" has 2 syllables: hangn-ail.

What does hangnail mean?

noun

  1. A loose, narrow strip of nail tissue protruding from the side edge and anchored near the base of a fingernail or toenail.
  2. A pointed upper corner of the toenail (often created by improperly trimming by rounding the corner) that, as the nail grows, presses into the flesh or protrudes so that it may catch (“hang”) on stockings or shoes.

Synonyms

agnail

Hear “hangnail” in real sentences

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

Related words

agnailbackfriendhand-nailnailhandnailnagnailnailheadnailful

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "hangnail"?▾

"Hangnail" has 2 syllables: hangn · ail.

What is the IPA transcription of "hangnail"?▾

The IPA transcription of "hangnail" is /[heɪŋneɪ̯ɫ]/.

What does "hangnail" mean?▾

Hangnail: A loose, narrow strip of nail tissue protruding from the side edge and anchored near the base of a fingernail or toenail.

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