Pronunciation: [fˈalə͡ʊ] (IPA) 
Fallow is a six-letter word with two syllables, pronounced as /ˈfæl.əʊ/. The word is commonly misspelled as "falo" or "felo." The correct spelling has an "a" after the first "l" and an "ow" at the end, representing the vowel sound of "o" and "u" blended together. Fallow means "land left unplowed and uncultivated during a growing season." The word originated from the Old English word "fealu," which means "pale yellow-brown."
Fallow, in its primary sense, refers to an agricultural practice of leaving a field unplanted or unproductive for a specific period of time. This deliberate method is employed to allow the land to naturally restore its fertility, control pests, and reduce weed growth, thereby benefiting subsequent crops. During the fallow period, the field remains untouched, without any crop cultivation or disturbance. The duration of fallow period can vary depending on local conditions, crop rotation patterns, and the specific objectives of the farmer.
In an extended sense, fallow can be used metaphorically to describe a period of inactivity, dormancy, or rest in any domain or situation. It suggests a deliberate pause or hiatus during which no significant activity or progress occurs. This usage can be applied to various fields, such as economics, ecology, creativity, or personal growth. For instance, someone may take a fallow period in their career to seek inspiration, recharge their creative energies, or acquire new skills.
In general, the concept of fallow embodies the idea of intentionally refraining from immediate productivity in order to reap long-term benefits. Whether referring to agricultural land or a metaphorical sense, fallow underscores the importance of rejuvenation, regeneration, and careful management of resources to achieve sustainable growth and success.
• Applied to one of the deer kind of a brownish bay colour.
• Applied to land which has lain a year or more untilled; land ploughed but not seeded for the season; neglected.
• To plough up land without seeding it.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "fallow" comes from the Old English word "fealu" or "fealh", which means "pale red" or "yellow". This Old English word is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "falwaz". Over time, the meaning of "fallow" shifted to represent the pale, light brown color of untilled soil when it is left uncultivated. Hence, "fallow" eventually came to refer to agricultural land that is allowed to rest and remain unplanted for a period to restore its fertility.
