ESEN
Which one to use?Intermediateadjectivenoun
VilevsVial
'Vile' means extremely unpleasant, disgusting, or morally wicked; 'vial' is a small glass container for liquids.
Side-by-side comparison
Vile
adjective"Vile" describes something extremely unpleasant, disgusting, or morally wicked. "A vile smell" = a revolting odour. "Vile behaviour" = deeply contemptible conduct.
The vile smell from the broken sewer pipe filled the entire building.
That was a vile accusation with no basis in fact whatsoever.
The weather turned vile overnight, freezing rain and gale-force winds.
Vial
noun"Vial" is a small cylindrical glass or plastic container used to hold liquids: medicines, laboratory samples, or perfumes. "A vial of poison" = a small bottle of poison.
The pharmacist handed her a small vial of the oral medication with instructions.
Each blood sample was stored in a labelled vial at four degrees Celsius.
The perfume came in a delicate crystal vial with a gold stopper.
Common mistake
- •"She opened a vile of medicine" when meaning the glass container is wrong (correct: vial).
- •"The test tube is vile" when meaning the glass tube is wrong (correct: vial).
- •Vile has one syllable (/vaɪl/); vial has two (/vaɪ-əl/).
Trick to remember it
- •"Vile" is short and sharp like disgust itself.
- •"Vial" has A for "Ampoule", the medical word for a small glass container.
Quick rule
Is it the adjective for disgusting or wicked? "Vile." Is it the small glass container? "Vial."
Did you know?
VILE comes from Latin "vilis" meaning "cheap, of low price, without value." Over time it evolved from "without monetary value" to "without moral value" and finally to the modern sense of "revolting or wicked." VIAL comes from Greek "phiale" (a broad shallow cup), which entered English through Latin and Old English "fiole." In the Book of Revelation, the "seven vials of God's wrath" are containers poured upon the Earth, this dramatic image made VIAL widely known through medieval religious texts. Some modern Bible translations use "bowl" instead.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The nurse held up a small _____ of medicine and injected it carefully.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
That was a _____ thing to say. I can't believe he spoke to her like that.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
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One means to receive or agree to something, the other means to exclude or not include.
AdvicevsAdvise
'Advice' is the guidance you receive (noun); 'advise' is the act of giving that guidance (verb).
AffectvsEffect
'Affect' is the verb meaning to influence something; 'effect' is the noun meaning result or consequence.
AislevsIsle
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy