stale
word
/ˈsteɪɫ/
stayl
/stˈeɪl/
stayl
Definition
Something is 'stale' if it is no longer fresh, usually referring to food, or if an idea or situation feels old, boring, or not interesting anymore.
Usage & Nuances
'Stale' is most often used about food (bread, cake, chips) that has lost freshness but not spoiled. It can also describe ideas, jokes, or air that feel boring, overused, or not fresh. Not used for meat or dairy (use 'spoiled'). 'Stale air' means air that feels stuffy or old.
Spanish: rancio - pasadoPortuguese (BR): velho (pão/bolo) - amanhecido - sem graça (ideia/assunto)Portuguese (PT): duro (pão/bolo) - amanhecido - gasto (ideia/assunto)Chinese (Simplified): 不新鲜 - 陈旧Chinese (Traditional): 不新鮮 - 陳舊Hindi: बासीArabic: قديم - غير طازجBengali: বসা - পুরনো (আঙ্গিনার বাইরের অর্থে, যেমন কৌতুক/বাতাসে)Russian: черствый - несвежий - застарелый (переносное значение)Japanese: 古い - しけった (食べ物に対して)Vietnamese: ôi - cũ - nhàm chán (nghĩa bóng)Korean: 오래된 - 식은 (음식에 대해) - 진부한 (비유적으로)Turkish: bayat - eski (fikir/hava için)Urdu: باسی - پرانا (خیال/مزاح/ہوا کے لیے)Indonesian: basi - usang (untuk ide/udara)
Example Sentences
The cookies became stale overnight.
basic
The air in the room feels stale.
basic
His jokes are getting a bit stale; we’ve heard them all before.
natural
I opened the bag and realized the chips were already stale.
natural
After working here for years, everything started to feel a little stale.
natural
This bread is stale.
basic