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Relationship Terms

Pal Meaning, Origin and Examples

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The slang term “pal” is used a lot in regular conversations both online and offline. It is used nearly as much as the original terms that it is used in place of. If you were unable to determine the meaning of this word when you heard or seen it being used and have come here to be enlightened, then you are in luck.

Here you will find the meaning of the term, details about its origin, and some other meanings if there are any that exist. You will also find some conversation examples that you can read through to help you better understand the term’s definition. Finally, you will see some different words that can be used interchangeably with this slang term that carry the same meaning.

Pal Meaning

What Does Pal Mean?

This slang term pal is most often used as just another word for a friend or a good buddy.

Pal MeaningPin
Pal Meaning – Created by 7ESL

Origin of Pal

This slang term has been used since the 17th-century and was derived from the Sanskrit word “bhrtr,” which means “brother.” Romans were the first to transcribe the slang term mentioned above directly from the Sanskrit word and its meaning, and added to the meaning to include a friend. It then began to be used in English.

Other Meanings

There are currently no other known meanings for this slang term.

Synonyms for Pal

There are several other words that you can use in place of this slang term that mean the same thing. Some other words that you can use include:

  • friend
  • buddy
  • chum

Conversation Examples

A discussion between two friends via text message.

  • Friend 1: I want to say thank you.
  • Friend 2: Thank you for what?
  • Friend 1: For being my best pal. You are always there for me when I need someone, and I truly appreciate that.
  • Friend 2: Well, you are most welcome! You are a great pal too!

An online conversation between two Twitter users.

  • User 1: I need some advice.
  • User 2: I will try to help. What’s up?
  • User 1: A pal of mine is having trouble with his girlfriend and asked me for advice, but I don’t know what to tell him.
  • User 2: What is she doing?
  • User 1: She is cheating on him. He says he has proof.
  • User 2: Then my advice would be that your pal needs to leave his girl.
B1 Knowledge Check · 5 questions

Pal Meaning, Origin and Examples — Practice Quiz

1 / 5
Q1

Question 1: What does "pal" mean?

Question 1 options
According to the article, "pal" is most often used as just another word for a friend or a good buddy.
Q2

Question 2: The word "pal" was derived from the Latin word "amicus."

Question 2 options
This is false. The article states that "pal" was derived from the Sanskrit word "bhrtr," which means "brother," not from the Latin word "amicus."
Q3

Question 3: Which sentence uses "pal" correctly?

Question 3 options
"She has been my pal since childhood" correctly uses "pal" to mean a friend, which matches the article's definition. The other sentences misuse the word by treating it as a verb, an adjective, or a negative term.
Q4

Question 4: Match each informal word for "friend" with its description.

Question 4 options

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

{""content"": ""A casual term for a close friend""
Q5

Question 5: Which of the following is a synonym for "pal" as listed in the article?

Question 5 options
The article lists "friend," "buddy," and "chum" as synonyms for "pal." "Neighbor" is not mentioned as a synonym in the article.

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