# dale

/ˈdeɪɫ/ (US) · /dˈeɪl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dale
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a valley

noun · CEFR B2 · British English · Literary

a valley, usually in a hilly area like Northern England.

For teachers: a valley, specifically one located in an upland or hilly region. The term is a common topographic element in Northern English and Scottish place names.

- We spent the whole afternoon walking through the green dales of Yorkshire.
- The hikers descended into the mist-covered dale, where a small stream wound through the limestone floor of the valley.

Usage: Often used in the plural ('the Dales') to refer to the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Teaching tip: While 'valley' is the standard term, 'dale' is preferred in Northern England and is essential for understanding British geography and pastoral poetry.

## Examples

- The hikers walked down into the green dale.
- The small village was tucked away in a quiet dale, protected from the wind by the surrounding hills.
- The poet described the mist rolling over the dale at dawn, capturing the quiet isolation of the rural landscape before the industrial age changed it forever.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.