High or Tall? What’s the Difference?

High or Tall? What’s the Difference?

Hello, dear English learners! Many students get confused when choosing between high and tall, especially when describing height. Don’t worry — the difference is actually simple once you see how native speakers use these two adjectives. Let’s break it down together. High or Tall? What’s the Difference?

When to Use High

We use high to describe things based on how far they are from the ground or how much vertical distance there is between their bottom and top.

• A hot air balloon can fly as high as 3,000 metres.
• Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in Europe.
• She was wearing shoes with high heels.
• The walls around the fortress were thick and high.

We also use high for amount, level, degree, or intensity:

• Prices are getting higher every year.
• Cook the meat at a high temperature to get a golden-brown colour.
• They used high-quality paper for the book.
• His stress levels were extremely high during the exam week.

When to Use Tall

We use tall for people:

• John is the tallest boy in the class.
• Michelle is a tall, slim basketball player.
• He’s nearly as tall as his father.

We also use tall for objects that are high, narrow, and vertical, especially buildings, towers, and trees:

• St Paul’s Cathedral used to be the tallest building in London.
• Baobab trees can grow very tall.
• They usually serve cocktails in tall glasses.
• A tall chimney rose above the old factory.

High or Tall? What’s the Difference?

Quick Guide

Use high for:

🏔️ mountains

🧱 walls

💰 prices

🌡️ temperatures

🌬️ planes, balloons

📊 levels / amounts

Use tall for:

👨‍🦰 people

🌳 trees

🏢 buildings

🥤 glasses

⛪ towers

Click here to learn 6 idioms and expressions using the adjective “high”

Do the quiz to perfect your knowledge:

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