Quick answer
Foul means dirty, nasty or against the rules; fowl is a bird. Remember that fowl contains the w of wings, so it is the one with feathers.
The core difference
Foul describes something unpleasant or a broken rule, while fowl is a bird, especially one kept or hunted for food.
- foul — dirty or unpleasant, or (in sport) an illegal act: A foul odour came from the abandoned building.
- foul — to break a rule by illegal contact: The defender fouled him just outside the box.
- fowl — a bird, especially chickens, ducks or geese: The farm raised fowl for eggs and meat.
How to tell them apart
Foul is used for smells, weather, language and sporting offences. Fowl is used for birds, and you will most often meet it in words like waterfowl, wildfowl and fowling, meaning hunting birds.
The mix-up shows up in the phrase foul play, which is correct because it means unfair or criminal behaviour. Writing fowl play would suggest something to do with birds. Likewise a foul smell is nasty, whereas fowl belongs on the farm.
Frequently asked questions
Is it foul play or fowl play?
It is foul play, meaning dishonest or illegal conduct. Fowl play would only make sense as a joke about birds.
Are foul and fowl pronounced the same?
Yes, they are homophones, so only the spelling and context tell you which is meant.
What does fowl include?
It covers birds raised or hunted for food, such as chickens, ducks and geese.
