[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/pal/)

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# pal

noun (a pal, pals); verb phrase (pal up, pal around — informal)

«pal» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (informal) A friend. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pal/#m1)
2. «Pen pal» or «pen friend»: someone you write letters to, often in another country. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pal/#m2)

### In the lessons

In everyday talk and stories it is a friendly word for a friend: «my old pal», «best pals». In school: pupils may have a «pen pal» abroad to practise writing. Sometimes «pal» is used in an annoyed way to a stranger: «Listen, pal…».

### Examples

- He's my best pal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pal/#x1)
- We have been pals since nursery. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pal/#x2)
- I write letters to my pen pal in Australia. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pal/#x3)
- The dog is my faithful pal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pal/#x4)
- Come on, pal, let's go home. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pal/#x5)
- The two of them palled up on the first day of camp. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pal/#x6)

### Note

Informal: fine in speech and friendly letters, but in formal writing use «friend». Plural: «pals». Similar words: «mate» (UK, Australia), «buddy» (US). Verb forms double the «l»: palled, palling.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «pal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pal/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«pal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pal.html) on Mova free.