ails - Master This Word
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ails Word Meanings
- to be in poor health
- to suffer from a problem or illness
- to cause distress or trouble
ails Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
ails Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/eɪl/
US
/eɪl/
ails Word Etymology
a(i)l = to be or become ill; from Old English, through Proto-Germanic. Imagine a person struggling under the weight of a heavy illness, unable to rise from their bed.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
ail is a somewhat old-fashioned, literary verb in English. It means to be ill or to suffer from a problem or illness, and it can also mean to cause distress or trouble. You’ll hear it in phrases like What ails you? or in medical writing about someone who ails from a fever or chronic condition. The noun form ailment is common, and ailing describes someone who is sick or weakening. Ail is not typically used for everyday injuries; it leans toward health issues, discomfort, or burdens that trouble someone. Its pronunciation is /eɪl/, rhyming with pale, and learners sometimes confuse it with allow or fail.
Usage Reminders
- Remember that ail is formal and literary
- Use be ill or be sick for everyday health issues
- What ails you? asks about health or trouble, not morality
- Ailment and ailing are common related words to learn together
- Pronounce it like pale, not like fail
Common Misconceptions
- It means to cause harm, which is rare; the subject is usually ill, not the cause
- It is not for everyday injuries; use be sick or be injured instead
- It does not equal fail or fall; they are false cognates
- What ails you? is health-related, not moral judgement
- Ail as a verb is largely literary; avoid overgeneralizing
Thinking Differences
In English, ail is a formal, slightly archaic term. Learners often think it covers any distress, but it mainly concerns health or burdens, and it appears in literary or medical contexts. Typical errors include using ail for simple injuries or using it in casual conversation.
Learning Tips
- 6 items: recognize its literary tone
- pair with be sick/be ill in casual speech
- use What ails you? for asking health
- learn ailment and ailing as related nouns/adjectives
- practice identifying contexts where it sounds natural
- listen for historic or medical texts to hear it used
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