“Vail,” “vale,” and “veil” are homophones—words that sound the same but have distinct meanings and spellings. Learning to differentiate between these words is key to ensuring clarity in your writing and speech.
Vail
Definition:
“Vail” is a verb meaning to lower, typically as a sign of respect or submission.
Examples of use:
You should vail the flag because our former governor just passed away.
The knight vailed his sword before the queen as a sign of loyalty.
They vail their hats when entering the chapel to show respect.
Vale
Definition:
“Vale” is a noun that refers to a valley or a lowland area, often used in poetic or literary contexts.
Examples of use:
His morning walk took him through vale country and agricultural land.
The peaceful vale was surrounded by towering mountains on all sides.
They rested by a small stream running through the vale after a long hike.
Veil
Definition:
“Veil” can be a noun or verb. As a noun, it refers to a covering, typically for the face, or something that conceals. As a verb, it means to obscure or hide something.
Examples of use (Noun):
The bride wore a beautiful white veil that covered her face.
Their organization operated under a veil of secrecy.
The veil of mist made it hard to see the road ahead.
Examples of use (Verb):
They have always veiled their undercover activities from the public.
The mountains were veiled in clouds as the storm approached.
She veiled her emotions, keeping her thoughts to herself.
In summary, “vail” is about showing respect by lowering something, “vale” refers to a valley, and “veil” refers to a covering or hiding something from view. Knowing the difference between these homophones will ensure you use them correctly in writing and conversation.
