el
7 synonyms and 0 antonyms for el, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The letter L or l, as used in the Latin alphabet.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
From Old English el, the name given to the letter L, ultimately from Latin.
Full origin of el →Frequently asked questions
What does “el” mean?
The word “el” means the letter L or l, as used in the Latin alphabet. In plain terms, either the name of the letter L, or informal American slang for an elevated train line.
How do you pronounce “el”?
“El” is pronounced EHL (/ˈɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “el” in a sentence?
Here is “el” used in a sentence: “In the phonetic alphabet, "el" is sometimes used to represent the letter L.”
What part of speech is “el”?
“El” is a noun.
Where does the word “el” come from?
The word “el” comes from Latin. From Old English el, the name given to the letter L, ultimately from Latin.
Is “el” a common word?
“El” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “el” have?
“El” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the letter L or l, as used in the Latin alphabet.
What does the word 'el' mean?
'El' is the spelled-out name of the letter L or l in the Latin alphabet — the way its sound is written as a word. Just as the letter B is spelled 'bee,' L is spelled 'el.' It is used when talking about the letter itself rather than a sound inside a word.
Why is the letter L spelled 'el'?
The name 'el' reflects how the letter is pronounced when recited, following a pattern seen in other consonants whose names use a vowel plus the sound, such as 'em' for M, 'en' for N, and 'ess' for S. Spelling the name as 'el' lets writers refer to the letter in text.