Meaning & use
gable of a roof
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
The triangular upper part of an end wall of a building, between the two sloping sides of a roof.
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase: 'the gable of a roof'. You can also say just 'gable' or 'gable end'.
Patterns
- the gable of a roof
- a gable on a roof
The gable of a roof is often decorated with a small window.
From the street, you can see the gable of the roof above the front door.
The storm damaged the gable of the roof, so they had to repair it quickly.
phrasefixed phrase
The whole triangular section at the end of a building, including the wall and the roof edge.
Grammar: Often used when talking about the shape or style of a building: 'a house with a gable of a roof'.
Patterns
- a house with a gable of a roof
- the gable of a roof faces the street
The old cottage has a gable of a roof that faces the sea.
They added a window in the gable of the roof to let in more light.
The architect designed a modern house with a large gable of a roof.
Common combinations
- gable end
- The gable end of the house was painted white.
- gable roof
- A gable roof is one of the most common roof shapes.
- gable window
- Light came through the small gable window.
- steep gable
- The steep gable made the house look taller.
Synonyms and how they differ
- gable
- This is the short, everyday word for the same thing; 'gable of a roof' is just a longer, more explicit way to say it.
- gable end
- This usually means the whole end wall that includes the gable, not just the triangular part.
Word family
- gabled adjective
- Having a gable or gables: a gabled house.
Commonly confused: gable of a roof or gambrel? gable of a roof or eaves?
gable of a roof vs gambrel
A gambrel is a different roof shape with two slopes on each side, often seen on barns. A gable has a single slope on each side.
gable of a roof vs eaves
Eaves are the edges of a roof that hang over the walls, while the gable is the triangular end part.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'gable of a roof' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The gable is the triangular upper part of an end wall, so option An is correct. Option B describes a floor or deck, option C describes a drainpipe, and option D describes a basement, none of which are the gable.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gable of a roof”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.