“Pail” or “Pale”—Which to use?

“Pail” or “Pale”

Overview

pail / pale are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

pail: (noun) the quantity contained in a pail.

pale: (verb) turn pale, as if in fear. (adjective) very light colored; highly diluted with white. (adjective) (of light) lacking in intensity or brightness; dim or feeble. (adjective) lacking in vitality or interest or effectiveness. (adjective) abnormally deficient in color as suggesting physical or emotional distress. (adjective) not full or rich.

Pronunciation

pail: p·EY·l

pale: p·EY·l

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Examples in Context

Examples of “pail”

…then he would carry the pail of water to his little
The Milk Pail Restaurant east of East Dundee…
…made their way with a pail of water on their heads.
…masoned sable over which a pail of the third hanging on…

Examples of “pale”

…black, but always having a pale, almost yellow, line down the…
…that its ground color is pale sulfurous, not white, and the…
It is typically pale gray shading to darker gray…
The hindwings are pale brownish bronze with a brown
…are dull ash-coloured with a pale spot behind the middle.
It is grey-brown above and pale below.
When breeding the males develop pale cauliflower like glands on their…
…to produce a commercially valuable pale flesh.
…insect), antennae and legs are pale yellow.
…of the Velvet Underground song "Pale Blue Eyes."

(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)

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