How Do You Spell JAIL?

Pronunciation: [d͡ʒˈe͡ɪl] (IPA)

The word "jail" is spelled as J-A-I-L. It is a noun that refers to a place where criminals are kept as punishment. The phonetic transcription of "jail" is /dʒeɪl/, with the letter 'j' standing for the voiced palato-alveolar affricate sound 'ʤ', the letter 'a' representing the diphthong 'eɪ', and the letter 'l' producing the voiceless alveolar lateral approximant sound 'l'. Despite being commonly spelled as "jail" in American English, it can also be spelled as "gaol" in British English.

Meaning and Definition
Top Common Misspellings
Other Common Misspellings
Etymology
Idioms
Similar spelling words
Conjugate verb
Basic Check Advanced Check

JAIL Meaning and Definition

  1. Jail is a noun that refers to a place where individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a crime are confined and held as a form of punishment or temporary detention. It is a secure facility designed to restrict the movement and freedom of inmates.

    A jail typically consists of various cells or living quarters, along with common areas such as a dining hall, exercise yard, and administrative offices. It is usually operated by law enforcement agencies or corrections departments within a jurisdiction, and its main purpose is to ensure public safety, maintain order, and incarcerate those who have violated the law.

    Inmates in jail are usually deprived of certain rights and liberties, as their movements are restricted, and they are subject to the rules and regulations enforced by the correctional staff. While in jail, individuals may have limited access to personal belongings, communications with the outside world, and the ability to carry out their everyday life activities.

    Jails serve different purposes, including holding individuals awaiting trial or sentencing, detaining those who have been sentenced to a short-term incarceration, or temporarily housing prisoners before they are transferred to a long-term correctional facility, such as a prison. The conditions and management of jails can vary, but they are generally aimed at ensuring the safety and security of both staff and inmates.

  2. A prison; a place of confinement for prisoners.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for JAIL *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for JAIL

Etymology of JAIL

The word "jail" has an interesting etymology. It originates from the Old French word "jaiole", which means "cage" or "prison". This Old French term comes from the Late Latin word "gaviola", itself derived from the Latin word "caveola", meaning "small hollow" or "cavity".

Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of "jaiole" changed, evolving into "gaiole" in Middle French, and eventually into "jail" in modern English. The word has retained its meaning of a place for confinement or imprisonment throughout its linguistic evolution.

Idioms with the word JAIL

  • rot in jail, prison, etc. The idiom "rot in jail, prison, etc." refers to expressing a strong desire for someone to remain in detention for a significant period, facing punishment or suffering the consequences of their actions. It implies that the individual deserves to endure a lengthy sentence or sentence of isolation, emphasizing one's disdain or contempt towards them.
  • bail (one) out of jail The idiom "bail (one) out of jail" refers to the act of providing financial assistance or securing the release of someone who has been arrested or detained. It typically involves posting bail, which is a sum of money or collateral deposited with the court or law enforcement agency to ensure the individual's appearance at future court proceedings.
  • clap (someone) in jail The idiom "clap (someone) in jail" means to arrest or imprison someone. It refers to the act of swiftly apprehending and detaining an individual for their alleged criminal activities or wrongdoing.
  • clap someone in jail (or irons) The idiom "clap someone in jail (or irons)" means to arrest someone and put them in prison or handcuffs. It refers to the action of physically apprehending a person and confining them to a jail cell or restraining them with handcuffs.
  • bail someone out of jail The idiom "bail someone out of jail" means to secure the release of an individual who has been arrested or imprisoned by paying their bail amount or providing the necessary guarantees. It refers to taking financial or legal responsibility for someone's release from custody until their court hearing or trial.
  • bail sm out of jail The idiom "bail someone out of jail" refers to the act of providing financial assistance or posting bail to secure the release of someone who has been arrested and detained in a jail or prison.
  • get out of jail free card The idiom "get out of jail free card" refers to a metaphorical expression derived from the board game Monopoly. It signifies a special advantage, excuse, or opportunity that allows someone to avoid the negative consequences or punishment for their actions, just like the "Get Out of Jail Free" card in Monopoly allows a player to avoid being sent to jail. It implies the ability to escape or evade a difficult situation without facing the usual repercussions.
  • get out of jail
  • nail-em-and-jail-em "Nail-em-and-jail-em" is an idiom that means to catch and punish someone for their wrongdoing, typically involving law enforcement or legal authorities taking action against the individual.

Similar spelling words for JAIL

Conjugate verb Jail

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have jailed
you would have jailed
he/she/it would have jailed
we would have jailed
they would have jailed
I would have jail
you would have jail
he/she/it would have jail
we would have jail
they would have jail

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I would have been jailing
you would have been jailing
he/she/it would have been jailing
we would have been jailing
they would have been jailing

CONDITIONAL PRESENT

I would jail
you would jail
he/she/it would jail
we would jail
they would jail

CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

I would be jailing
you would be jailing
he/she/it would be jailing
we would be jailing
they would be jailing

FUTURE

I will jail
you will jail
he/she/it will jail
we will jail
they will jail

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be jailing
you will be jailing
he/she/it will be jailing
we will be jailing
they will be jailing

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have jailed
you will have jailed
he/she/it will have jailed
we will have jailed
they will have jailed

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been jailing
you will have been jailing
he/she/it will have been jailing
we will have been jailing
they will have been jailing

IMPERATIVE

you jail
we let´s jail

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to jail

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was jailing
you were jailing
he/she/it was jailing
we were jailing
they were jailing

PAST PARTICIPLE

jailed

PAST PERFECT

I had jailed
you had jailed
he/she/it had jailed
we had jailed
they had jailed

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been jailing
you had been jailing
he/she/it had been jailing
we had been jailing
they had been jailing

PRESENT

I jail
you jail
he/she/it jails
we jail
they jail

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am jailing
you are jailing
he/she/it is jailing
we are jailing
they are jailing

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

jailing

PRESENT PERFECT

I have jailed
you have jailed
he/she/it has jailed
we have jailed
they have jailed

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been jailing
you have been jailing
he/she/it has been jailing
we have been jailing
they have been jailing

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

he/she/it jail

SIMPLE PAST

I jailed
you jailed
he/she/it jailed
we jailed
they jailed

Infographic

Correct spelling for jail
Add the infographic to your website: