How to pronounce "trail"

trail

Noun
American
/treɪl/

Syllable Breakdown

trail

How natives say trail

British
/treɪl/

Syllable Breakdown

trail

How natives say trail

Pronunciation Guide In American

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with a 't' sound by placing your tongue behind your top teeth.

  • Follow with the 'r' sound by curling your tongue slightly back.

  • Finish with 'ail' by combining the long 'a' sound as in 'day' and the 'l' sound.

Common Mistakes

  • t-ray-ul (insertation of extra syllable)

  • tray-l (misplaced stress)

  • ter-ail (incorrect vowel sound)

Pronunciation Guide In British

Pronunciation Steps

  • Same as American

common mistakes

  • Same as American

FAQ

How do I pronounce the 'tr' at the start?

Use a clear 't' sound followed immediately by a soft 'r' sound.

Is the 'a' in 'trail' long or short?

It is a long 'a', pronounced like 'day'.

Should I stress 'trail' on any syllable?

Yes, stress the entire word as it is a single syllable word.

Definition

trail

A path or track made by people or animals walking through an area.

Word Family

train

/treɪn/

noun

A series of connected vehicles traveling on railways.

Example: The train is late.

trial

/ˈtraɪəl/

noun

A test of performance or suitability.

Example: They went through a trial period.

trait

/treɪt/

noun

A characteristic or quality.

Example: Honesty is his best trait.

Key Pronunciation Differences

Differs in ending sound compared to 'train' (/n/).

Differs in vowel sound compared to 'trial' (/aɪ/).

Differs in ending sound compared to 'trait' (/t/).

Pro Tips

Listen to Native Speakers

Pay attention to how native speakers link sounds together.

Practice 'r' Sounds

Curl your tongue slightly for a correct 'r' sound without rolling it.

Nearby Words

Test Your Pronunciation On Words That Have Sound Similarities With Trail

abroad

/əˈbrɔd/

accelerate

/əkˈsɛləˌreɪt/

accident

/ˈæksɪdənt/

accommodate

/əˈkɑːməˌdeɪt/

accompany

/əˈkʌmpəni/

accomplish

/əˈkɑːm.plɪʃ/

afford

/əˈfɔrd/

airline

/ˈɛrˌlaɪn/

Other Categories

Test Your Pronunciation On Words Within Other Categories

adjoin

ability

agenda