Ailments are conditions that impair normal physical or mental function, typically diseases or illnesses of the body. In medical or everyday use, the term covers both minor complaints and more serious disorders. It denotes a state of being unwell rather than singular symptoms, and is often used in contexts like discussing chronic health concerns or general well-being.
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"She listed her ailments to the doctor, hoping for a full assessment."
"The clinic specializes in chronic ailments and preventive care."
"He treated his ailments with rest, medicine, and gentle exercise."
"The article discussed common ailments that affect travelers and how to mitigate them."
Ailments comes from the Old French ailment, derived from es ailment, related to the verb ailier meaning to trouble or to be afflicted, ultimately tracing to Latin ad- ‘toward’ + alius ‘other’ in the sense of something that befalls or troubles. The term appeared in English in the late Middle Ages as a general label for conditions of sickness or weakness, evolving from a broader sense of ‘to trouble’ or ‘to afflict.’ Over time it narrowed to medical contexts, especially in describing multiple health issues rather than a single disease. The plural form ailments emphasizes the variety or plurality of problems a patient may face, distinguishing it from specific named diseases. Throughout its use, ailment has maintained a semi-formal register, frequently found in medical writing and serious discourse about health. First known uses appear in 14th–15th century texts, with early modern medical treatises and literature adopting the term to summarize general clinical concerns rather than prescribe a singular diagnosis.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "ailments" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "ailments"
-nts sounds
-ets sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˈeɪl.mənts/. The first syllable gets primary stress. The /eɪ/ is the diphthong as in ‘rain’; the second syllable uses a schwa /ə/ or a reduced vowel: /l mənts/. Tip: lightly pronounce the /l/ with a relaxed tongue, then move to a quick /m/ and /ənt s/. Overall, sound like 'AYL-ments' with a soft, quick ending. IPA guides: US /ˈeɪl.mənts/, UK /ˈeɪl.mənts/, AU /ˈeɪl.mənts/.
Common errors include reducing the first syllable to a simple /e/ or /æ/, and over-pronouncing the second syllable as /ˈeɪl.mɛnts/. Some speakers insert an extra /ɪ/ or /ɜː/ sound, making it ‘ay-ill-ments.’ Correction: keep the /eɪ/ diphthong in the first syllable and use a short, relaxed /ə/ (schwa) or /ə/ in the second syllable: /ˈeɪl.mənts/. Avoid delaying the /m/; keep the transition smooth from /l/ to /m/.
US/UK/AU share the /ˈeɪl.mənts/ skeleton, but rhythm and vowel quality can differ. US often has a slightly quicker second syllable with a stronger /ə/; UK may exhibit a crisper /l/ and a clearer /ə/ or /ɐ/ in the second syllable; AU tends to be even more centralized on the schwa, with a relaxed final consonant cluster. Overall, the rhotacization is not involved, so /l/ remains light in all. Practice listening to native usage in each variant to tune subtle vowel length and intonation.
Key challenge is the two-consonant cluster transition from /l/ to /m/, plus the final /nts/ sequence that can blur in fast speech. The mouth must glide from the alveolar /l/ to the bilabial /m/ without a vocalic break, then quickly articulate the /nts/ ending. This demands precise timing and a relaxed jaw to maintain the schwa in the middle. Focusing on a clean /l/ release, smooth /m/, and crisp /nts/ helps clarity.
Ailments uniquely begins with a strong /eɪ/ diphthong, making it feel longer in careful speech. The two-syllable pattern should maintain even stress, with primary stress on the first syllable. A useful tip is to think of it as ‘AYL-ments’ with a light, almost syllabic /l/ and a quick completion of /mənts/ rather than a drawn-out final consonant. This keeps it natural in clinical or formal contexts.
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