How to Pronounce Wails

To pronounce "wails", say WAILS — one syllable. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

wails

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Accent

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1

Syllable

5

Letters

WAILS

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💡 Tip for remembering “wails”

"wails" 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: wailes, wales, whales — easy to mix up when writing.

What does wails mean?

noun

  1. A prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish.

    “She let out a loud, doleful wail.”

  2. Any similar sound as of lamentation; a howl.

    “A bird's wail in the night.”

verb

  1. To cry out, as in sorrow or anguish.
  2. To weep, lament persistently or bitterly.

verb

  1. To strike the skin in such a way as to produce a wale or welt.
  2. To give a surface a texture of wales or welts.

Words that rhyme with wails

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

entailstravailsdetailsgalestailstalesnailstrailssailsbalesprevailsassails

Related words

mewlwhimperpuleplaintululatehowlroarlamentation

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "wails"?▾

"Wails" has one syllable.

What does "wails" mean?▾

Wails: A prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish.

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