How to Pronounce Sails

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

sails

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Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

5

Letters

/seɪlz/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “sails”

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

Sounds exactly like: sales, sayles — easy to mix up when writing.

What does sails mean?

noun

  1. A piece of fabric attached to a boat and arranged such that it causes the wind to drive the boat along. The sail may be attached to the boat via a combination of mast, spars and ropes.
  2. (nautical,uncountable) The concept of a sail or sails, as if a substance.

    “Take in sail: a storm is coming.”

verb

  1. To be impelled or driven forward by the action of wind upon sails, as a ship on water; to be impelled on a body of water by steam or other power.
  2. To move through or on the water; to swim, as a fish or a waterfowl.

Words that rhyme with sails

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

entailstravailsdetailsgaleswailstailstalesnailstrailsbalesprevailsassails

Related words

cruisenavigatevoyagecanvassheetsweepcanvassyards

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "sails"?▾

"Sails" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "sails"?▾

The IPA transcription of "sails" is /seɪlz/.

What does "sails" mean?▾

Sails: A piece of fabric attached to a boat and arranged such that it causes the wind to drive the boat along. The sail may be attached to the boat via a combination of mast, spars and ropes.

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