how to pronounce ail

/ɛɪl/

audio example by a male speaker

audio example by a female speaker

the above transcription of ail is a detailed (narrow) transcription according to the rules of the International Phonetic Association; you can find a description of each symbol by clicking the phoneme buttons in the secction below.

ail is pronounced in one syllable

press buttons with phonetic symbols to learn how to precisely pronounce each sound of ail

1. example pitch curve for pronunciation of ail

test your pronunciation of ail

press the "test" button to check how closely you can replicate the pitch of a native speaker in your pronunciation of ail

meanings of ail

verb:

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

noun:

The awn of barley or other types of corn.
An ailment; trouble; illness.

adjective:

Painful; troublesome.

ail frequency in english - C2+ level of CEFR

the word ail occurs in english on average 0.7 times per one million words; this frequency warrants it to be in the study list for C2+ level of language mastery according to CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference.