Pronunciation
UK
- /ɛˈmeɪl/obsoleterarenoun
- /ˈiːmeɪl/noun
- /ˈiːmeɪl/verb
US
- /iˈmeɪl/
Description
- digital message
- electronic mail
- internet letter
- written message sent online
Think of email as a modern version of postal mail, but with screens instead of paper and stamps. It lets you send written messages, pictures, and files through the internet to anyone with an address for it. People use it for work, school, personal news, and everyday updates. You might send your boss a report, write to a friend, or get messages about sales and events. Unlike regular mail, it usually arrives in seconds.
The word "email" can also be used as a verb: "I'll email you the document right away." It is such a normal part of daily life now that it is hard to imagine modern communication without it, even if a full inbox can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Email, short for electronic mail, is a way of exchanging digital messages through computers, phones, and the internet. It became a faster and more convenient alternative to traditional postal mail. Imagine sending a letter that arrives within seconds: that is the basic idea behind email.
Originally developed in the early 1970s, email grew from simple text messages into a system that can also carry pictures, documents, links, and other files. It is used for many kinds of communication, from formal business writing like reports and meeting plans to casual personal messages like sharing photos or checking in with friends and family.
The term "email" can function as both a noun ("I checked my email this morning") and a verb ("Please email me the details"). You'll often see it paired with other terms like "inbox" (where you receive messages), "outbox" (messages waiting to be sent), "spam" (unwanted junk mail), and "CC" or "BCC" (ways to include others on a message).
While instant messaging and social media are now very common, email remains a central part of modern communication, especially in professional settings. It creates a written record of conversations and allows people to reply when they have time, so they do not need to be online at the same moment. So next time you press "send," you are using a tool that changed how people share information, work together, and stay in touch.
Examples
- 1
Teacher message
I got an email from my teacher this morning.
- 2
Unread messages
I woke up to thirty unread emails.
- 3
Sending method
Please send me the photos by email.
Phrase
by email
using email
- 4
Message content
She explained the problem clearly in her email.
- 5
Work account
Did you check your work email before you left?
- 6
Sending documents
I'll email you the document tonight.
Pattern
email someone + something
send something to that person by email
- 7
Contacting business
He emailed the hotel to ask about late check-out.
- 8
Remote coordination
We handled everything over email instead of meeting in person.
Phrase
over email
through email
- 9
Follow-up
If you don't hear back by Friday, email again.
Phrase
hear back
get a reply
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- emailnounverb
Forms
- emailspluralnounverb
- emailedpast tenseverbnoun
- emailing-ing formverbnoun