Cool MateHail vs Ice pellets
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
| Hail | Ice pellets | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Small balls of ice that fall from the sky during some storms. | Small pieces of ice that fall from the sky like rain. |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Usage notes | Use 'hail' when discussing weather conditions. It's not usually used in casual conversation unless weather is the topic. Avoid in formal writing unless it specifically relates to storms. | Commonly used in weather reports; not used in casual conversation. Typically referred to when describing a specific type of precipitation. |
Frequently asked questions: Hail vs Ice pellets
What's the difference between "Hail" and "Ice pellets"?
"Hail" means: Small balls of ice that fall from the sky during some storms. "Ice pellets" means: Small pieces of ice that fall from the sky like rain.
When should I use "Hail" and "Ice pellets"?
They can all be used in everyday English.