'Maul' means to attack and injure with claws or heavy blows; 'mall' is a shopping centre or a pedestrian walkway.
Verb/noun. To attack violently, especially with claws or teeth. To handle something roughly or clumsily. Also: a large heavy hammer or mallet.
The hiker was mauled by a bear while camping in a national park.
The home team was thoroughly mauled in the second half, conceding four goals.
She mauled through the pile of documents, leaving papers scattered everywhere.
Noun. A large enclosed shopping centre (shopping mall). Also: a pedestrian street or boulevard. 'The Mall' in London is the ceremonial avenue to Buckingham Palace.
The new shopping mall opened with over two hundred stores across three floors.
The Mall in Washington runs between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial.
They spent the afternoon at the mall, browsing stores and having lunch in the food court.
Common mistake
"The bear malled the hiker" when meaning attacked (correct: mauled). Or "She spent the afternoon at the maul" when meaning shopping centre (correct: mall). Perfect homophones — only context tells them apart.
Trick to remember it
'Maul' has AU like 'awful' and 'haul' — violence and heavy effort. 'Mall' has ALL like 'all stores, all brands, all under one roof'.
Quick rule
Is it the violent attack or the large hammer? 'Maul'. Is it the shopping centre or pedestrian boulevard? 'Mall'.
Did you know?
'Mall' comes from 'Pall Mall' — a 17th-century croquet-like game (palla a maglio in Italian) played along a long lane. Pall Mall street in London and The Mall (the royal avenue) take their name from this game's playing alley. When the first enclosed shopping mall was built (1956, Southdale Center, Minnesota), it was called a 'mall' because its covered pedestrian design recalled those old game alleys. Architect Victor Gruen, who designed it, later regretted creating a model that destroyed urban street life. 'Maul' comes from Old French 'mail' (a mallet) — the same root as 'mall'.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The visiting team was _____ ed in the second half, losing the game by a record margin.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
They met at the _____ food court after exploring the new tech stores.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Is it the violent attack or the large hammer? 'Maul'. Is it the shopping centre or pedestrian boulevard? 'Mall'.
"The bear malled the hiker" when meaning attacked (correct: mauled). Or "She spent the afternoon at the maul" when meaning shopping centre (correct: mall). Perfect homophones — only context tells them apart.
'Maul' has AU like 'awful' and 'haul' — violence and heavy effort. 'Mall' has ALL like 'all stores, all brands, all under one roof'.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy