Have your students ever mixed up “sleigh” and “sled”? Whether they’ve just started learning English or have been speaking it for years, “sleigh” and “sled” are two winter-related words that many people still get confused.
That’s because both sleds and sleighs are winter vehicles that work in a similar way. So how can you tell them apart?
In this blog post, I’ve outlined the differences between sleigh and sled with some examples so that your students always know exactly when to use each term!
What does "sleigh" mean?
A sleigh is a big, box-like, open-air vehicle on two ski-like runners that can transport people over snow and ice.
The main difference between a "sleigh" and a "sled" is that a sleigh is almost always pulled by a horse or a team of horses (or reindeer, if you're Santa Claus).
"Sleigh" can serve different functions in a sentence:
- Noun: sleigh, sleighs
- Verb: sleigh, sleighed, sleighing (Note: The verb sleigh is not common and best avoided.)
Examples of "sleigh" used in a sentence
- The Smith family rode around the lake in a horse-drawn sleigh.
- This hotel package includes dinner and a sleigh ride along the snowy trails around the village.
- Every year, Santa Claus travels across the globe in a sleigh drawn by reindeer.
What does "sled" mean?
A sled is a small, open-air vehicle that is flat-bottomed or on two ski-like runners. One or two people can ride a sled down a snowy hill. Sleds can also be pulled by a person or a team of dogs.
"Sled" can serve different functions in a sentence:
- Noun: sled, sleds, sledder
- Verb: sled, sledded, sledding
Examples of "sled" used in a sentence
- My dad surprised me with a bright red sled for my birthday this year.
- Catherine went dog-sledding in Alaska last winter.
- Mount Orford created a fun path for sledders to speed down.
- Two kids sledded down a nearby hill, and their cries of delight echoed in the cold January air.
“Sled” also sometimes gets confused with another related term: toboggan. A toboggan is a type of sled with a flat bottom and a curved front edge. One or two people can ride a toboggan down a snowy hill.
It’s best to only use the word “toboggan” when talking about a specific type of sled.
Share your thoughts
In North America, the words “sleigh,” “sled,” and “toboggan” are all quite common. What's the most common term where you live? Share it in the comments section below. Happy Holidays!
Related
Get into the holiday spirit and find lots of related vocabulary in our winter holiday lessons!
- Christmas - Beg
- Christmas - Low Int – Int
- Christmas - High Int – Adv
- New Year's - Beg
- New Year's - Low Int – Int
- Chanukah
- Kwanzaa
- Festivus
- Boxing Day
Editor's note: This post was originally published in December 2014 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
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