One syllable: Veil.
vayl
/veɪl/
Veil is pronounced vayl (/veɪl/). It has one syllable (Veil), with the stress on "Veil". Veil is a noun meaning a piece of fabric or netting worn over the face or head, often for protection, modesty, or ceremonial purposes. It can also describe something that conceals or disguises, like a veil of fog. In everyday usage, it typically refers to a decorative or ceremonial covering, distinct from a hat or scarf.
nounVeil is a noun meaning a piece of fabric or netting worn over the face or head, often for protection, modesty, or ceremonial purposes. It can also describe something that conceals or disguises, like a veil of fog. In everyday usage, it typically refers to a decorative or ceremonial covering, distinct from a hat or scarf.
"She lifted the veil to reveal the bride's smile."
"A veil of mist hung over the valley in the early morning."
"The detective spoke cautiously, as if there were a veil between truth and rumor."
Pronounce it as /veɪl/ with a long A vowel. Start with a hands-off mouth position: jaw slightly dropped, lips neutral, tongue high-mid in the front of the mouth for /eɪ/, then release into an /l/ sound by lightly touching the tip of the tongue to the alveolar ridge. The Syllable stress is on the single syllable word itself; there is no secondary stress. If you’re listening, you’ll hear a clean glide from /v/ into /eɪ/ and then a light /l/ at the end. A quick reference: think 'v' + 'ale' with a crisp final 'l'.
Common errors: (1) pronouncing it as 'veal' with a short 'ea' or as a pure long 'ee' sound; (2) misplacing the tongue so the /l/ becomes dark or vocalized; (3) inserting an extra syllable in fast speech. Correction: keep a tight front vowel /eɪ/ sequence (as in 'say'), ensure the tongue tip lightly contacts the alveolar ridge for the /l/, and end with a crisp, not airy, /l/. Practicing with minimal pairs like veil vs. vile can help you feel the vowel length and the light onset of /l/.
In US, UK, and AU, the core /veɪl/ vowel remains similar, but rhoticity matters in connected speech. US speakers may merge some interdental fricatives with /v/ and keep the /l/ light; UK and AU variants maintain a non-rhotic vowel quality in certain contexts, but for this monosyllable, you’ll hear a bright /eɪ/ with precise /l/; Australians often produce a slightly shorter /eɪ/ with a softer /l/ on faster speech. Overall, the main difference is in vowel duration and the quality of the final L and surrounding rhythm.
The difficulty lies in producing a clean diphthong /eɪ/ followed by a light alveolar /l/ without adding an extra vowel or a dark L. Beginners may glide into 'veil' as 'veal' or add an extra 'uh' before the /l/. Tip: practice the glide by saying 'ay' in isolation, then attach the /l/ immediately after the glide, keeping the tongue tip at the alveolar ridge. Focus on a short, crisp ending rather than allowing the sound to trail into a syllabic or silent L.
Veil features a simple one-syllable structure with the diphthong /eɪ/ riding on a voiced labio-dental fricative /v/ and a light alveolar approximant /l/. The unique piece is closing with a clear alveolar /l/ rather than a dark L that many speakers place in word-final positions; this makes the end tone bright and short. Concentrate on the transition from /eɪ/ to /l/ with minimal vowel break, and keep the lip position relaxed but not loose.
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Veil comes from the Old French voile, from Latin vellum meaning a cover or veil, related to the Proto-Indo-European root weld- meaning to cover or bind. In Middle English (circa 13th century), veil referred to a cloth used to cover the face, particularly in marriage customs. The sense of concealment or partial obscuration developed alongside the literal garment, expanding to metaphorical uses such as a veil of uncertainty or a veil of fog. Over time, the spelling stabilized to veil in English with the long 'a' sound /eɪ/. The word shares semantic kinship with related terms like veil, veil-like coverings, and ceremonial drapery; it also influenced modern phrases such as 'veiled attempt' and 'veiling truth'. First known written use in English appears in legal and religious contexts from the 1200s, evolving through Shakespearean and Victorian prose into contemporary usage.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Veil" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Veil" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Veil" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Veil"
-ail sounds
-ale sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
