How Do You Spell WAIL?

Pronunciation: [wˈe͡ɪl] (IPA)

The word "wail" is spelled with five letters: "w," "a," "i," and "l." Its IPA phonetic transcription is /weɪl/. The "w" symbol represents the voiced bilabial glide, which is pronounced by bringing the lips together and then pulling them apart while producing a sound. The "a" symbol represents the open front vowel, pronounced with the mouth wide open and the tongue low in the mouth. The "i" symbol represents the close front unrounded vowel, pronounced with the tongue raised towards the front of the mouth. The "l" symbol represents the voiced alveolar lateral approximant, pronounced with the tongue touching the alveolar ridge. Overall, the spelling of "wail" accurately represents its pronunciation in English.

Meaning and Definition
Top Common Misspellings
Other Common Misspellings
Etymology
Similar spelling words
Plural
Conjugate verb
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WAIL Meaning and Definition

  1. Wail is a verb that refers to producing a high-pitched, loud, and mournful sound. It is typically used to describe an expression of deep grief, sorrow, or suffering, often accompanied by crying and lamentation. When someone wails, they emit a prolonged and intense cry or howl that usually signifies distress, anguish, or pain. This vocalization is often associated with mourning or expressing overwhelming emotions.

    The word "wail" can also be used as a noun to denote the act of crying out or lamenting with a loud, mournful sound. A wail can be characterized by its intensity, carrying a sense of desolation or despair. It is not uncommon to hear wails during funerals, when deeply bereaved individuals let out their sorrow and grief through this heartrending sound.

    Wailing is a universal expression that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers. Different cultures have their own distinctive forms of wailing, which may include specific vocalizations, gestures, or rituals associated with mourning and grieving.

    In a figurative sense, "wail" can be used to describe a loud and continuous sound that is reminiscent of someone wailing in distress. For example, the wind can wail during a storm, or a siren can wail through the streets. In this context, "wail" refers to any sound that is loud, piercing, or prolonged, creating an atmosphere of disturbance or alarm.

  2. • To cry out in sorrow for; to express sorrow by a mournful crying.
    • Loud and mournful weeping; audible sorrow.

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

Top Common Misspellings for WAIL *

* 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 WAIL

Etymology of WAIL

The word "wail" comes from the Old English verb "wǣlan" or "wǣlian", which means "to lament or mourn". It is believed to have derived from the Proto-Germanic root "*wailijaną". This root is also related to the Old Norse verb "veila", the Middle Dutch verb "waelen", and the Middle High German verb "weilen", all of which share similar meanings of wailing or lamenting.

Similar spelling words for WAIL

Plural form of WAIL is WAILS

Conjugate verb Wail

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have wailed
you would have wailed
he/she/it would have wailed
we would have wailed
they would have wailed
I would have wail
you would have wail
he/she/it would have wail
we would have wail
they would have wail

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

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

CONDITIONAL PRESENT

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

CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

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

FUTURE

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

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

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

FUTURE PERFECT

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

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

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

IMPERATIVE

you wail
we let´s wail

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to wail

PAST CONTINUOUS

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

PAST PARTICIPLE

wailed

PAST PERFECT

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

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

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

PRESENT

I wail
you wail
he/she/it wails
we wail
they wail

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

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

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

wailing

PRESENT PERFECT

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

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

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

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

he/she/it wail

SIMPLE PAST

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

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Correct spelling for wail
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