Words That Rhyme With "tell" — Rhymes for Songwriters & Poets
'Tell' belongs to the '-ell' rhyme family, one of the most versatile and widely used sound clusters in English songwriting. It appears across pop, country, folk, hip-hop, and R&B, carrying an emotional directness that suits confessional and narrative lyrics. Its urgency and simplicity make it a go-to word for moments of revelation, honesty, and longing.
What Rhymes With "tell"?
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Famous uses of "tell" in music and poetry
Tell Me Something Good - Rufus & Chaka Khan
The word 'tell' anchors the plea of the song, used as a direct command that builds emotional tension throughout the hook, demonstrating how imperative phrasing drives soul and funk lyrics.
Can't Tell Me Nothing - Kanye West
Kanye uses 'tell' as a defiant pivot word in a rap context, pairing it with near rhymes and internal rhyme schemes to convey pride and resistance.
Tell Her - John Mayer
Mayer employs 'tell' in a confessional folk-pop setting, rhyming it within the '-ell' family to create a soft, intimate cadence that suits the song's vulnerable emotional register.
Frequently asked questions
What rhymes perfectly with tell?
Perfect rhymes with 'tell' include: well, fell, bell, sell, spell, shell, yell, dwell, cell, hell, smell, swell, gel, knell, and quell. These all share the exact '-ell' vowel-consonant ending. Words like 'well' and 'spell' are especially popular in pop and country, while 'hell' and 'cell' appear frequently in rap and rock lyrics.
What are near rhymes for tell?
Near rhymes for 'tell' include: feel, tale, tall, trail, veil, real, heal, deal, fill, and will. These share either the vowel sound or ending consonant but not both. They're useful when you want to avoid an obvious rhyme or create a looser, more conversational flow in folk or indie styles.
What are slant rhymes for tell?
Slant rhymes for 'tell' include: held, help, realm, wealth, self, shelf, belt, and melt. These share consonant sounds or partial vowel resemblance with 'tell' without being true rhymes. Slant rhymes add sophistication and are widely used in literary poetry and alternative or indie songwriting.
How do you use tell in a rap song?
In rap, 'tell' is a powerhouse imperative that fits naturally into punchlines and hooks. Pair it with 'well,' 'hell,' 'cell,' or 'spell' for a clean '-ell' rhyme scheme. You can also use multisyllabic extensions like 'tell it,' 'tell me,' or 'compelled' to create internal rhyme and flow variation. Kanye and J. Cole both leverage the directness of 'tell' to front-load authority in their bars.
What is the best rhyme scheme for tell in poetry?
The ABAB or AABB schemes work beautifully with 'tell' as an anchor word. In AABB couplets, pair 'tell' with 'well' or 'spell' for clean resolution. In a Shakespearean sonnet structure, 'tell' can hold the third quatrain where emotional revelation peaks. Its single syllable also makes it ideal for iambic pentameter, landing on a stressed beat naturally.
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