# pack vs pail

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### pack
*noun · IPA /pæk/ · frequency rank #2,224*
A bundle made up and prepared to be carried; especially, a bundle to be carried on the back, but also a load for an animal, a bale.

### pail
*noun · IPA /peɪl/ · frequency rank #37,615*
A vessel of wood, tin, plastic, etc., usually cylindrical and having a handle -- used especially for carrying liquids, for example water or milk; a bucket (sometimes with a cover).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pack-vs-pail
