vale

/veɪl/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈel] /veɪl/ (ame, ipa) · [vˈel] /ˈvāl How to pronounce vale (audio)/ (ame, mw)

vale — noun

  • valesingular
  • valesplural

1. a word appearing in the names of particular valleys or low-lying areas between h

1.名詞B2
釋義

a word appearing in the names of particular valleys or low-lying areas between hills

例句

The Vale of Glamorgan is a beautiful area with green hills and farms.

proper noun pattern: the Vale of + place name

Ryo took a train north through the Vale of York to visit his family.

文法句型

the Vale of [proper name]

用法筆記

Almost always written with a capital letter as part of a place name, following the pattern 'the Vale of [Name]'. This usage is common in British geography but rare in American English, where 'valley' is preferred in place names.

常見錯誤

❌San Fernando Vale
✅San Fernando Valley
💡In American English, place names almost always use 'Valley' rather than 'Vale'.

2. an area of low land between hills or mountains, often with a stream running thro

2.名詞C1
釋義

an area of low land between hills or mountains, often with a stream running through it; used mainly in poetry, literature, or formal descriptive writing

例句

From the mountain top, Pedro could see the misty vale far below.

literary register; descriptive scene-setting

Anjali wrote a poem about the quiet vale where she walked each morning.

同義詞
  • valley

    the everyday neutral word for this geographical feature; 'vale' is more poetic

  • dale

    a similar literary word, especially common in northern British English and place names

  • glen

    specifically a narrow, steep-sided valley, most common in Scottish place names

反義詞
  • hill

    the raised land that forms the sides of a vale

  • mountain

    a high landform that contrasts with a low valley

用法筆記

Subject is usually a landscape or location. Object is typically preceded by a descriptive adjective (green, misty, quiet, peaceful, narrow). In modern everyday conversation, the neutral word 'valley' is preferred — 'vale' sounds old-fashioned or deliberately poetic.

常見錯誤

❌The river flows through a wide vale in the countryside' (in a geography report)
✅The river flows through a wide valley in the countryside
💡'vale' sounds literary; use 'valley' in factual or neutral writing.