noun
Very common
el
EHL
El (noun) means the letter L or l, as used in the Latin alphabet. Example: “The teacher drew a big el on the board and asked us to name the sound.”
noun
1
The letter L or l, as used in the Latin alphabet.
"The teacher drew a big el on the board and asked us to name the sound."
"Children often mix up the el and the capital letter i in some fonts."
"In the phonetic alphabet, "el" is sometimes used to represent the letter L."
2
An elevated railway line or train, especially in older US city transit systems like Chicago.
"Commuters crowded onto the el platform as the evening rush began."
"They rode the el downtown instead of taking a cab."
"The el rattled overhead as we walked beneath the tracks."
How to use el
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the name of the letter L, or informal American slang for an elevated train line.
Common mistake
The "el" meaning elevated train is mainly US usage, especially associated with Chicago.
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Word forms
- Plural
- els
Fill the gap
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The teacher drew a big _____ on the board and asked us to name the sound.
Etymology
From Old English el, the name given to the letter L, ultimately from Latin.
Synonyms
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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.
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