adjective B1 Intermediate Common

pale

payl

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Pale (adjective) means Light in colour, or lacking the usual colour, especially in the face. Example: “The baby has pale skin, so we always put a hat on her in summer.”

adjective

Light in colour, or lacking the usual colour, especially in the face.

"The baby has pale skin, so we always put a hat on her in summer."

"She looked pale after the long flight."

"He painted the room a pale shade of yellow."

verb

To become pale, especially from shock, fear, or illness.

"She paled at the sight of the needle and sat down quickly."

"I saw him pale as he read the angry message."

"He paled when he heard the news."

To seem weaker or less impressive by comparison.

"My little garden pales in comparison with the huge park nearby."

"Last year's problems pale beside the troubles we face now."

"Her early work pales next to what she achieved later."

noun

The historical phrase "beyond the pale," meaning outside acceptable limits or boundaries.

"Shouting at the referee like that is beyond the pale."

"Most of us felt that his rude joke went beyond the pale."

"His comments were considered well beyond the pale."

How to use pale

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLight-coloured, especially a face that has lost colour, or (as a verb) to lose colour or seem lesser by comparison.

Common mistake

"Beyond the pale" doesn't mean pale in colour at all — it comes from a separate word for a boundary fence, meaning "outside acceptable limits."

Easily confused with

pail →

Common pairings

pale in comparison go pale pale blue beyond the pale

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: pales
Third person singular: pales
Past tense: paled
Comparative: paler
Superlative: palest

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

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The baby has _____ skin, so we always put a hat on her in summer.

Etymology

From Old French pale, from Latin pallidus ("pale, pallid"). The noun sense meaning "boundary" comes from a separate root, Latin palus ("stake"), referring to a fence of stakes marking a territory's limits — the origin of the phrase "beyond the pale."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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pallid wan ashen faded washed-out colourless sick blench blanch picket

Antonyms

ruddy dark rich deep swarthy

Related words

night black light sorry dark deep rich sick

Rhymes for pale

ale male sale gale tale kale vale dale Yale bale hale cale

See all rhymes for pale →

Frequently asked questions

What does “pale” mean?

The word “pale” means light in colour, or lacking the usual colour, especially in the face. In plain terms, light-coloured, especially a face that has lost colour, or (as a verb) to lose colour or seem lesser by comparison.

How do you pronounce “pale”?

“Pale” is pronounced payl (/peɪl/ in IPA).

How do you use “pale” in a sentence?

Here is “pale” used in a sentence: “She looked pale after the long flight.”

What part of speech is “pale”?

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

Where does the word “pale” come from?

The word “pale” comes from Latin.

Is “pale” a common word?

“Pale” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “pale” have?

“Pale” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: light in colour, or lacking the usual colour, especially in the face.

What is the difference between pale and pallid?

Both describe a lack of colour, especially in the face, but pale is the neutral, everyday word, while pallid is more formal or literary and usually implies an unhealthy or lifeless look. A person can be naturally pale, whereas pallid almost always suggests illness, exhaustion, or weakness.

What is the difference between pale and pail?

Pale and pail sound identical but are unrelated. Pale means light in colour or lacking colour, and as a verb, to lose colour or to seem less impressive by comparison; a pail is a bucket. If you are describing colour or a shocked face, the spelling you want is pale.

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