Meaning & use
hydel
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a nounIndian
Relating to electricity produced by the force of falling or flowing water.
Grammar: Used before a noun, as in 'a hydel project'; it is not usually used after a verb.
Patterns
- hydel power
- hydel project
- hydel station
The state plans to build a new hydel plant on the river.
Hydel power is cheaper than power from diesel generators in this region.
Engineers surveyed the valley for a hydel project.
noununcountableIndian
Electricity generated from water power.
Grammar: No plural or article; used like 'power' or 'electricity'.
Patterns
- generate hydel
- produce hydel
The dam produces enough hydel for the whole district.
They hope to sell surplus hydel to neighboring states.
Common combinations
- hydel power
- The village finally got hydel power last year.
- hydel project
- The hydel project was delayed by heavy rain.
- hydel station
- A small hydel station supplies the town.
- hydel energy
- Hydel energy is seen as a clean option.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hydroelectric
- The standard international term; use it outside South Asian English.
- hydropower
- A noun for the energy itself, not the adjective for plants or projects.
Word family
- hydroelectric adjective
- Producing electricity from water.
- hydropower noun
- Electricity made from water.
Commonly confused: hydel or hydro?
hydel vs hydro
In British English 'hydro' often means a hotel or spa with water treatments; 'hydel' is only about electricity.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'hydel' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Only 'hydel project' matches the meaning 'relating to water-generated electricity'. The others treat 'hydel' as a place, a drink, or a person, which it never means.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hydel”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.