“Ail” or “Ale”

Overview

ail / ale are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

ail: (verb) be ill or unwell.

ale: (noun) a general name for beer made with a top fermenting yeast; in some of the United States an ale is (by law) a brew of more than 4% alcohol by volume.

Pronunciation

ail: EY·l

ale: EY·l

Trends

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