How to Pronounce Trail

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

trail

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.

Speed

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying trail, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

1

Syllable

5

Letters

/tɹeɪl/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “trail”

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

What does trail mean?

noun

  1. The track or indication marking the route followed by something that has passed, such as the footprints of animal on land or the contrail of an airplane in the sky.
  2. A route for travel over land, especially a narrow, unpaved pathway for use by hikers, horseback riders, etc.

verb

  1. To follow behind (someone or something); to tail (someone or something).

    “The hunters trailed their prey deep into the woods.”

  2. To drag (something) behind on the ground.

    “You'll get your coat all muddy if you trail it around like that.”

Synonyms

dirt trackfootpathpathtracksignspoor

Hear “trail” 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 trail

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

wailgaleavailfrailassailtravailprevailentailstaleunveilailbale

Related words

chaseentraintrudgetagtrack

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "trail"?▾

"Trail" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "trail"?▾

The IPA transcription of "trail" is /tɹeɪl/.

What does "trail" mean?▾

Trail: The track or indication marking the route followed by something that has passed, such as the footprints of animal on land or the contrail of an airplane in the sky.

Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?

Open “trail” in the full dictionary →