pal

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableinformal

   A friend, especially one you spend relaxed time with.

   Grammar: Often with a possessive: my pal; also my old pal.

   Patterns

   • a pal of someone's
   • pals with someone

   He went fishing with his pals every Saturday.

   She has been my pal since first grade.

   We are old pals from college.

2. 2nouncountableinformal

   A word used to address a man, either in a friendly way or in an annoyed, unfriendly tone.

   Grammar: Used in direct address; tone decides whether it is warm or hostile.

   Patterns

   • Listen, pal

   Hey pal, you dropped your wallet.

   Back off, pal, I was here first.

   Thanks a lot, pal, I owe you one.

3. 3verbphrasal verbinformal

   To spend time together as friends, usually with around or up.

   Grammar: Used as pal around with or pal up with someone.

   Patterns

   • pal around with someone
   • pal up with someone

   He pals around with the older boys.

   The two of us palled up on the first day of camp.

Word forms

Common combinations

old pal

I ran into an old pal at the station.

pen pal

My pen pal lives in Japan.

pals with

She is pals with the whole team.

best pal

The dog is his best pal.

pal around

They like to pal around after school.

Synonyms and how they differ

buddy

Buddy is very close in meaning and slightly more American.

mate

Mate is the common British, Australian and Irish word and may also be used to address strangers.

friend

Friend is neutral and usable in any setting, while pal sounds casual.

chum

Chum is old-fashioned and sounds jolly or dated.

Opposites

Word family

pals noun

more than one friend

pally adjective

very friendly, sometimes too much so

palship noun

a rare word for friendship

Commonly confused: pal or pale? pal or pall?

Practice

Make it your own

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