valley
/ˈvæl.i/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A valley is a low area of land between hills or mountains, often with a river flowing through it.
- We camped in a green valley.
- The village lies in a narrow valley.
- Fog filled the valley early in the morning.
Adinary Nuance
A valley is a physical landform, so it is more specific than words like area or place. It is close to dale, but dale is less common and often sounds literary or regional. Compared with basin, valley usually suggests land between higher slopes, often with a river.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- thung lũng
- Spanish
- valle
- Chinese
- 山谷
- Japanese
- 谷
- Korean
- 계곡
Etymology
Valley comes from Old French valle, from Latin vallis, meaning “valley.” It entered English in the Middle Ages.
Common phrases
a narrow valleya river valleya valley floora valley floor
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is valley a common word in everyday English?
- Yes. It is common in both speech and writing, especially for places and geography.
- What is the difference between valley and basin?
- A valley is usually between hills or mountains. A basin is a lower area that may not be as clearly shaped by slopes.
- Can I use valley in academic writing?
- Yes. It is a normal word for geography, science, and general description.