noun
Common
dale
deh-oo
Dale (noun) means a valley, especially a broad, gentle one. Example: “Sheep grazed along the green slopes of the dale all summer.”
noun
1
A valley, especially a broad, gentle one.
"Sheep grazed along the green slopes of the dale all summer."
"They hiked through the misty dales of northern England."
"The cottage sits at the bottom of a quiet dale."
How to use dale
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA valley — the word survives mostly in place names and the phrase "hill and dale."
Common pairings
over hill and dale
the Yorkshire dales
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Word forms
- Plural
- dales
Fill the gap
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Sheep grazed along the green slopes of the _____ all summer.
Etymology
From Old English dæl, going back to a common Germanic root for "valley."
Related words
Rhymes for dale
See all rhymes for dale →Frequently asked questions
What does “dale” mean?
The word “dale” means a valley, especially a broad, gentle one. In plain terms, a valley — the word survives mostly in place names and the phrase "hill and dale.".
How do you pronounce “dale”?
“Dale” is pronounced deh-oo (/deu/ in IPA).
How do you use “dale” in a sentence?
Here is “dale” used in a sentence: “They hiked through the misty dales of northern England.”
What part of speech is “dale”?
“Dale” is a noun.
Where does the word “dale” come from?
The word “dale” comes from Old English. From Old English dæl, going back to a common Germanic root for "valley.".
Is “dale” a common word?
“Dale” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between a dale and a valley?
Valley is the standard, everyday word for a low area between hills. A dale is also a valley, but the word suggests a broad, gentle one and survives mainly in northern England, in poetry, and in place names such as the Yorkshire Dales.
What is the difference between a dale, a dell, and a glen?
All three are kinds of valley. A dale is typically broad and gentle, a dell is small and often wooded, and a glen is a narrow valley, the word being characteristic of Scotland and Ireland.
