How to Pronounce mill vs meal
Key Pronunciation Contrast
‘Mill’ (⁄mɪl⁄) uses short lax ⁄ɪ⁄; ‘meal’ (⁄miːl⁄) uses long tense ⁄iː⁄.
Contrast: Short ⁄ɪ⁄ vs long ⁄iː⁄
mill
⁄mɪl⁄
MILL
A grinding apparatus for substances such as grains, seeds, etc. (Some are small and simple, and some are large and complex.)
meal
⁄miːl⁄
MEAL
Food that is prepared and eaten, usually at a specific time, and usually in a comparatively large quantity.
Watch Native Video Clips & Ear Training
80 total video examplesFrequently Asked Questions: mill vs meal
What is the difference in pronunciation between "mill" and "meal"?
‘Mill’ (⁄mɪl⁄) uses short lax ⁄ɪ⁄; ‘meal’ (⁄miːl⁄) uses long tense ⁄iː⁄.
Where does the syllable stress fall in "mill" vs "meal"?
"mill" has 1 syllable(s) (mill) with stress on "MILL". "meal" has 1 syllable(s) (meal) with stress on "MEAL".
Why do English learners often confuse "mill" and "meal"?
Learners frequently confuse them due to the close sound contrast: Short ⁄ɪ⁄ vs long ⁄iː⁄. In rapid spoken English, context and vowel duration are the primary differentiators.
What are example sentences for "mill" and "meal"?
Example for "mill": "Pepper has a stronger flavor when it is ground straight from a mill." Example for "meal": "Breakfast is the morning meal, lunch is the noon meal, and dinner, or supper, is the evening meal."