Learn How to Pronounce fail

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How to pronounce:

Listen to the pronunciation:

fail

Phonetic Transcription:

feɪl

Examples:

The rest fail to divide, fail to implant, or miscarry.

These features fail to obtrude.

Learn more about:
fail

Related Words:

bad

work

How to perfect your pronunciation of: fail

Learn Individual Sounds

Break fail down into individual sounds such as feɪl. Practice these parts before you learn to say the whole word.

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Avoid mixing word pronunciations. If you’re learning American English, stick to it and try not to confuse yourself with British pronunciation.

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Common mistakes of fail pronunciation

Misplacing the vowel sound: Some learners pronounce "fail" with a short vowel sound, like "fæl". This is incorrect. The correct pronunciation is /feɪl/ in both US and UK English. Tip: Focus on the long "a" sound, as in "day".
Ignoring the final "l": A common mistake is to drop the "l" sound at the end, leading to "fay". The correct form is "fail" with a clear /l/ sound at the end. Tip: Practice saying "l" by placing your tongue against the roof of your mouth.
Incorrect stress placement: Some might stress the second syllable, saying "fa-IL". However, "fail" is a single-syllable word with stress on the first and only syllable: /feɪl/. Tip: Remember that "fail" has no additional syllable to stress.
Confusing with similar words: Learners sometimes mix up "fail" with "fell" or "fail" with "feel". Each word has distinct sounds: "fail" is /feɪl/, "fell" is /fɛl/, and "feel" is /fiːl/. Tip: Practice minimal pairs to differentiate between these sounds.
Overemphasizing the "f": Some learners pronounce "fail" with an exaggerated "f" sound, making it sound harsh. The "f" should be soft and smooth. Tip: Relax your lips when pronouncing "f" to achieve a more natural sound.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "fail" in American English?

In American English, "fail" is pronounced as /feɪl/, with a single syllable. The vowel sound is a long "a" like in "day."

What is the British English pronunciation of "fail"?

In British English, "fail" is also pronounced as /feɪl/, maintaining the same long "a" sound. There is no significant difference in pronunciation between the US and UK versions.

Does "fail" have any silent letters?

No, "fail" does not contain any silent letters; each letter is pronounced. The "f," "a," "i," and "l" are all voiced in this word.

Are there common mistakes when pronouncing "fail"?

A common mistake is mispronouncing "fail" as /fæl/, using a short "a" sound like in "cat." Remember to use the long "a" sound to pronounce "fail" correctly as /feɪl/.