An email is a digital message sent from one person to another over the internet.
Explanation at your level:
An email is a message on a computer. You use it to talk to people. You need an address to send one. It is very fast and easy to use. You can send pictures in an email too.
You use email for work or school. You can write to your teacher or your friends. Most people have an email account. It is very common to check your email every day to see if you have new messages.
Email is a standard way to communicate in business. You should be polite when you write an email. It is helpful to use a clear subject line so the person knows what your message is about before they open it.
While instant messaging is popular, email remains the professional standard for formal documentation. Understanding the difference between CC and BCC is essential for navigating office etiquette and privacy concerns in digital correspondence.
The ubiquity of email has fundamentally altered the nature of professional discourse. It allows for asynchronous communication, which provides a buffer for reflection, unlike the immediate pressure of live chat. However, it also creates the expectation of constant availability, leading to the modern phenomenon of 'email fatigue'.
Etymologically, email represents the intersection of classical postal terminology and digital infrastructure. It has become a metonym for digital identity, as an email address is often the primary key for account authentication across the web. Its cultural impact is profound, shifting from a novelty in the 1970s to an essential utility, akin to electricity or water, in the 21st century.
Mot en 30 secondes
- Email is digital mail.
- It is used for communication.
- It is countable.
- It is essential for work.
Think of email as the digital version of a post office. Instead of paper, envelopes, and stamps, you use digital data to send your thoughts, files, or photos to anyone in the world instantly.
It is the backbone of modern communication. Whether you are applying for a job, chatting with a friend, or receiving a newsletter, email is almost certainly involved. It is fast, efficient, and allows you to keep a record of your conversations.
The word email is a shortened form of electronic mail. It gained popularity in the late 20th century as computers became networked.
Ray Tomlinson is widely credited with sending the first network email in 1971. He also chose the @ symbol to separate the user's name from the machine's name, a convention we still use today. It is a fascinating example of how technology creates new language.
In daily life, we use email as both a noun and a verb. You can send an email (noun) or you can email your boss (verb).
When speaking professionally, it is common to use phrases like please find attached or per my last email. In casual settings, people often just say I'll email you later.
While email is a modern word, it has birthed new idioms. 1. Email chain: A long series of replies. 2. Inbox zero: The goal of having no unread emails. 3. Reply all: Sending a response to everyone on a list. 4. BCC: Blind carbon copy for private sharing. 5. Email blast: Sending one message to a massive group.
The word email is generally a countable noun. You can have one email or ten emails. In American English, the stress is on the first syllable.
Pronunciation: EE-mayl. It rhymes with words like detail, retail, and prevail. Remember that it is often written as one word without a hyphen in modern usage.
Fun Fact
The @ symbol was chosen because it was rarely used in names.
Pronunciation Guide
Long 'ee' followed by 'mayl'
Similar to UK, clear 'ee' sound
Common Errors
- Pronouncing as 'eh-mail'
- Stressing the second syllable
- Adding an extra vowel
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Very common word
Easy to spell
Easy to pronounce
Very clear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avanc
Grammar to Know
Articles
an email
Countable nouns
emails
Transitive verbs
I emailed him
Examples by Level
I sent an email.
I sent a message.
Past tense of send
Check your email.
I got an email.
Write me an email.
Is this your email?
Send the email now.
Did you see my email?
My email is full.
He read the email.
Please reply to my email.
I attached the file to the email.
Did you get my email about the meeting?
I will email you the details.
Check your spam folder for the email.
The email address is incorrect.
I spent all morning clearing my email.
She sent a follow-up email.
I've been cc'd on this email chain.
Please refrain from using reply-all on this email.
I'll forward that email to you shortly.
The email was sent to the wrong recipient.
I need to draft an email to the client.
His email went straight to my junk folder.
Could you archive that email for me?
The tone of her email was quite professional.
The email serves as a formal record of our agreement.
I'm currently wading through a backlog of emails.
The email thread has become quite convoluted.
It's best to keep this email strictly confidential.
The email notification was a welcome distraction.
He sent an encrypted email for security reasons.
The email was flagged by the system as suspicious.
I'll draft a formal email to address the concerns.
The email exchange provides a compelling narrative of the project's inception.
Her email was a masterclass in diplomatic communication.
The sudden influx of emails overwhelmed the server.
He meticulously curated his email folders for maximum efficiency.
The email was a mere formality in a larger negotiation.
The email trail was subpoenaed during the investigation.
She avoids email during weekends to maintain work-life balance.
The email paradigm has shifted how we perceive urgency.
Collocations courantes
Idioms & Expressions
"email chain"
a long series of messages
I am stuck in a long email chain.
neutral"reply all"
replying to everyone on a thread
Don't hit reply all by mistake.
neutral"inbox zero"
having no unread emails
My goal is inbox zero.
casual"email blast"
mass email sent to many
We sent an email blast to customers.
business"paper trail"
a record of emails
The emails left a paper trail.
formal"out of office"
auto-reply for being away
I got an out of office email.
businessEasily Confused
Related concepts
Mail is usually physical; email is digital.
I have mail in my box vs I have an email on my phone.
General term
Message is broad; email is a specific type.
A text is a message, but not an email.
Historical link
Post refers to physical delivery.
The post arrived today.
Functional link
A letter is a document sent via post.
I wrote a letter by hand.
Sentence Patterns
I sent an email to [person].
I sent an email to my boss.
Did you get my email?
Did you get my email?
Please email me at [address].
Please email me at work.
I'll follow up via email.
I'll follow up via email later.
The email regarding [topic] is here.
The email regarding the meeting is here.
Famille de mots
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Apparenté
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
Erreurs courantes
Email is a transitive verb here.
Use 'an' before vowel sounds.
You can count individual emails.
Modern usage prefers no hyphen.
It is not a proper noun.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine your inbox as a mailbox in your house.
Professionalism
Always use a subject line.
Tone
Emails lack body language.
Articles
Always use 'an' before email.
Stress
Stress the first syllable.
Verb usage
Don't say 'email to me'.
History
Ray Tomlinson invented it.
Practice
Change your phone language to English.
Pluralization
Just add 's'.
Clarity
Keep emails short.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
E for Electronic, mail for the message.
Visual Association
A letter flying into a computer screen.
Word Web
Défi
Write one email to a friend today.
Origine du mot
English
Original meaning: Electronic mail
Contexte culturel
Be careful with tone in emails; it can be misinterpreted without voice cues.
Email is the primary professional tool in the US and UK.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Work
- Please find attached
- Best regards
- Following up
School
- Regarding my assignment
- Thank you for your help
- Could you clarify?
Support
- I have an issue
- Please help me
- Ticket number
Personal
- How are you?
- Let's meet up
- See you soon
Conversation Starters
"Do you check your email often?"
"Do you prefer email or text?"
"What is the most important email you ever received?"
"How many emails do you get a day?"
"Do you like clearing your inbox?"
Journal Prompts
Describe your first email account.
Write about why email is important for work.
Imagine a world without email.
How do you feel when you have too many emails?
Questions fréquentes
8 questionsYes, in modern English.
Yes, 'I will email you'.
Emails.
It can be both formal and casual.
Carbon Copy.
Blind Carbon Copy.
EE-mayl.
Yes.
Teste-toi
I sent an ___ to my mom.
Email is a message sent digitally.
Which is correct?
Use 'an' before vowels.
Email is a physical letter.
Email is digital.
Word
Signification
Common email features.
Subject-Verb-Object order.
Score : /5
Summary
Email is the modern, essential digital tool for sending messages across the globe.
- Email is digital mail.
- It is used for communication.
- It is countable.
- It is essential for work.
Memory Palace
Imagine your inbox as a mailbox in your house.
Professionalism
Always use a subject line.
Tone
Emails lack body language.
Articles
Always use 'an' before email.
Exemple
I got an email from my mom today.
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Ce mot dans d'autres langues
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