Learn How to Pronounce whale
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How to pronounce:
whale
Definition:
(nou) a very large person; impressive in size or qualities (nou) any of the larger cetacean mammals having a streamlined body and breathing through a blowhole on the head
Phonetic Transcription:
weɪl
Examples:
The image below the whale shark is credited to the Georgia Aquarium.
The Blue Whale, the largest animal ever to live, is a baleen whale.
The humpback whale is a mammal which belongs to the baleen whale suborder.
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How to perfect your pronunciation of: whale
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Common mistakes of whale pronunciation
- Misplacing the vowel sound: Some learners pronounce "whale" with a short "a" sound, like in "hat." This leads to confusion with words like "well." Correct pronunciation is /weɪl/ in both US and UK. Tip: Focus on the long "a" sound, as in "day."
- Ignoring the initial "wh" sound: Many people pronounce "whale" as if it starts with a "w" sound alone, omitting the "h." This results in saying "wail." The correct pronunciation includes the "wh" sound /w/ followed by /eɪ/. Tip: Practice the "wh" sound by blowing air while saying "who."
- Stressing the wrong syllable: Some may incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "whale" like "wa-LE." The correct stress is on the first syllable /ˈweɪl/. Tip: Remember that "whale" is a one-syllable word, so keep the emphasis at the start.
- Overemphasizing the "l" sound: Learners sometimes pronounce "whale" with an exaggerated "l" at the end, sounding like "whail." The accurate pronunciation is a smooth ending /weɪl/. Tip: Keep the "l" soft and quick to avoid overemphasis.
- Confusing "whale" with "wail": Some may mix these two words, pronouncing them the same. "Wail" has a similar sound but is a different word with a different meaning. The pronunciation is /weɪl/ for "whale" and /weɪl/ for "wail." Tip: Pay attention to context to differentiate between these words.