noun
foal
fohl
Foal (noun) means a baby horse, or the young of a related animal such as a donkey or zebra, usually under a year old. Example: “The foal wobbled to its feet within an hour of being born.”
noun
1
A baby horse, or the young of a related animal such as a donkey or zebra, usually under a year old.
"The foal wobbled to its feet within an hour of being born."
"The mare and her foal grazed together in the paddock."
verb
1
Of a mare or other female equine: to give birth.
"The vet stayed up all night in case the mare foaled early."
How to use foal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA newborn or very young horse, or the act of a horse giving birth.
Common mistake
"Foal" (baby horse) sounds like "fowl" (poultry/birds) but the two are unrelated.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a mare and her foal
the mare foaled
a newborn foal
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Word forms
- Plural
- foals
- Third person singular
- foals
- Past tense
- foaled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ wobbled to its feet within an hour of being born.
Etymology
From Old English fola, an ancient Germanic word for the young of a horse, related to Latin pullus ("young animal") and to the English word "filly."
Rhymes for foal
See all rhymes for foal →Frequently asked questions
What does “foal” mean?
The word “foal” means a baby horse, or the young of a related animal such as a donkey or zebra, usually under a year old. In plain terms, a newborn or very young horse, or the act of a horse giving birth.
How do you pronounce “foal”?
“Foal” is pronounced fohl (/foʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “foal” in a sentence?
Here is “foal” used in a sentence: “The foal wobbled to its feet within an hour of being born.”
What part of speech is “foal”?
Depending on how it is used, “foal” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “foal” come from?
The word “foal” comes from Latin. From Old English fola, an ancient Germanic word for the young of a horse, related to Latin pullus ("young animal") and to the English word "filly.".
How many meanings does “foal” have?
“Foal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a baby horse, or the young of a related animal such as a donkey or zebra, usually under a year old.
