noun
el
EHL
noun
1
The letter L or l, as used in the Latin alphabet.
"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.
"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.
Word Forms
els plural, els plural, els plural, Els plural
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In the phonetic alphabet, "_____" is sometimes used to represent the letter L.
Etymology
From Old English el, the name given to the letter L, ultimately from Latin.