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noun

corral

kuh-RAL

Corral (noun) means a fenced enclosure for keeping livestock, especially horses or cattle. Example: “The cowboys herded the cattle into the corral.”

noun
1
A fenced enclosure for keeping livestock, especially horses or cattle.
"The cowboys herded the cattle into the corral."
verb
1
To round up and confine animals or people.
"Volunteers corralled the stray dogs into a shelter."
"She tried to corral her kids before dinner."

How to use corral

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA pen for animals, or the act of herding something (animals, people, ideas) into one place.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "coral," the marine organism/reef material — they're unrelated words that just sound alike.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
horse corral corral the cattle

Word forms

corraled past tense, corralled past tense, corrals plural, Corrals plural, corrals singular

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Test yourself on “corral” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The cowboys herded the cattle into the _____.

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish corral — the same root gives Afrikaans-derived English "kraal".

Origin: Spanish

cow pen cattle pen

Frequently asked questions

What does “corral” mean?

The word “corral” means a fenced enclosure for keeping livestock, especially horses or cattle. In plain terms, a pen for animals, or the act of herding something (animals, people, ideas) into one place.

How do you pronounce “corral”?

“Corral” is pronounced kuh-RAL (/kəˈɹæl/ in IPA).

How do you use “corral” in a sentence?

Here is “corral” used in a sentence: “The cowboys herded the cattle into the corral.”

What part of speech is “corral”?

Depending on how it is used, “corral” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “corral” come from?

The word “corral” comes from Spanish. Borrowed from Spanish corral — the same root gives Afrikaans-derived English "kraal".

How many meanings does “corral” have?

“Corral” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a fenced enclosure for keeping livestock, especially horses or cattle.

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