Palette, Palate, or Pallet: Do You Know the Difference?

We may often find ourselves distinguishing between two words that sound the same but have different meanings. In today’s post, we have a threesome of such words. That’s because palette, palate, and pallet are all said the same way, but each has a unique meaning and spelling.

To help you tell them apart, let’s begin by defining each one.

The Meaning of Palette

Palette is a popular term in the art world, where it refers to the flat board or tablet that painters hold while painting. Usually, a palette will have a hole for the thumb, different spaces for separate colors, and an area where they can be mixed.

The palette spelling can also sometimes refer to a kit of makeup applied to the skin.

Let’s look at a couple of examples:

Cynthia is gifted at using her entire palette to bring a portrait to life.

Robin likes to switch to a darker palette in autumn to go with her sweaters and dresses.

The Meaning of Palate

This spelling gives us a word relating to the sense of taste. While there is a hard palate (a bone on the roof of the mouth) and a soft palate (the skin tissue over that region), the word often expresses an appreciation for finer subtleties in flavor.

Here are examples of this meaning of palate in sentences:

Rose developed a refined palate for cheese after living in Paris for a decade.

A cool mint soup can be a perfect second course because it clears the palate nicely.

The Meaning of Pallet

The most straightforward of the three words, pallet is a noun that usually refers to a small, low, portable platform (usually made of wood) on which goods are placed for storage or moving, as in a vehicle or a warehouse. A pallet is also known as a skid.

Here is a pair of sentences using pallet correctly:

The shop owner decided to announce a special sale after receiving an extra pallet of rugs.

An entire pallet of televisions was damaged during an accident at the loading bay.

Pop Quiz

Applying what you’ve learned, fill in the sentences below with the proper use of palette, palate, or pallet.

1. You would never pay retail prices again if you knew what stores paid for a _____ of T-shirts.

2. Walk through the park in late September and you’ll see all the colors of the _____ on display.

3. I never buy expensive wine because my _____ isn’t sharp enough to tell the difference.

4. If you want to move to Europe, you’ll have to send your furniture overseas in a shipping _____.

5. The spicy chicken wings I had for lunch ruined my _____ for the expensive dinner.

  
  

Pop Quiz Answers

1. You would never pay retail prices again if you knew what stores paid for a pallet of T-shirts.

2. Walk through the park in late September and you’ll see all the colors of the palette on display.

3. I never buy expensive wine because my palate isn’t sharp enough to tell the difference.

4. If you want to move to Europe, you’ll have to send your furniture overseas in a shipping pallet.

5. The spicy chicken wings I had for lunch ruined my palate for the expensive dinner.

Learn Grammar the Easy Way

Maybe you don’t remember all of the finer points of English grammar you learned in school. Or, maybe you do remember some but you’d still like to make your skills even stronger. Either way, we have the tips and advice for becoming a more precise and eloquent writer and communicator.

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