Quick answer: Allowed means permitted or given permission: Smoking is not allowed here. Aloud means spoken out loud, not silently: Please read the poem aloud. Memory trick: aLOUD contains LOUD — a clue that it's about sound. Allowed is the past participle of the verb “allow”, so it's always about permission. For a fuller definition, see the Cambridge Dictionary entry for ‘allowed’.
Comparison Table
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| allowed | adjective / past participle of “allow” | permitted; given permission to do something | Are we allowed to leave early? |
| aloud | adverb | spoken out loud, not silently or inside one's head | She read the letter aloud. |
Using Allowed (Permission)
Allowed comes from the verb allow, meaning to give permission for something. As a past participle, allowed is used after forms of "to be" (is/are/was/were allowed) to describe what is or isn't permitted. For more on how permission is expressed in English, see our guide to modal verbs, which covers "can," "may," and "allowed to."
Smoking is not allowed in this building.
Are we allowed to leave early today?
Visitors are not allowed beyond this point.
Children under twelve are not allowed in without an adult.
You are allowed one carry-on bag per passenger.
Allow vs Allowed vs Allowed to
- allow (verb): They don't allow pets in the flat.
- allowed (adjective/participle): Pets are not allowed in the flat.
- allowed to (permission structure): You're not allowed to park here.
Using Aloud (Out Loud)
Aloud is an adverb meaning spoken or expressed with the voice, rather than silently or only in one's thoughts. It is most often used with verbs like read, think, laugh, wonder, and say.
Please read the poem aloud to the class.
She was thinking aloud, not really talking to anyone.
He wondered aloud whether the plan would work.
Reading aloud to children helps build their vocabulary.
She laughed aloud at the joke.
Aloud vs Loudly
Aloud is not the same as loudly. Aloud simply means "using your voice, not silently" — it says nothing about volume. Loudly describes volume — how loud a sound is. You can read something aloud in a quiet, gentle voice; you cannot read something silently but loudly.
Memory Trick
Spot LOUD hiding inside aLOUD — it's a direct clue that the word relates to sound and voice. For allowed, remember it ends the same way as other permission words built from verbs (permitted, approved, granted) — it's about what you're allowed (permitted) to do.
Common Mistakes
✗ We are not aloud to use phones in class.
✓ We are not allowed to use phones in class.
✗ He read the instructions allowed.
✓ He read the instructions aloud.
✗ Sorry, I was just thinking allowed.
✓ Sorry, I was just thinking aloud.
Quick Check: Allowed or Aloud?
Four questions — choose the correct word for each sentence.
1. “Are we ___ to leave early?”
2. “Please read the poem ___.”
3. Which word contains “LOUD” inside it?
4. “Smoking is not ___ here.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between allowed and aloud?
Allowed means permitted or given permission — it is the past participle of the verb "allow": "Smoking is not allowed here." Aloud is an adverb meaning spoken out loud, not silently: "Please read the poem aloud." The two words are homophones — they sound identical — but allowed relates to permission while aloud relates to sound and voice.
Is "allowed" an adjective or a verb?
Allowed most commonly functions as a past participle used adjectivally after forms of "be": "Pets are not allowed." It can also be the past tense of the verb "allow": "The teacher allowed extra time for the test." In both cases, it relates to permission. It should never be confused with aloud, which describes speaking out loud.
How can I remember the difference between allowed and aloud?
Spot the word LOUD hiding inside aLOUD — a direct clue that it relates to sound and speaking. Allowed, by contrast, comes from "allow," so remembering the base verb allow helps you connect it to permission. If your sentence is about permission (can I, is it okay to), use allowed. If it's about voice or sound, use aloud.
What does "think aloud" mean?
"Think aloud" (or "thinking aloud") describes speaking your thoughts out loud as they occur to you, rather than keeping them silent in your head: "Sorry, I was just thinking aloud — ignore me." It is a common phrase used when someone is reasoning through a problem verbally, and is also a recognised teaching technique where teachers verbalise their thought process for students.
Is "aloud" the same as "loudly"?
No. Aloud simply means using your voice rather than staying silent — it says nothing about volume: "She read aloud in a soft, gentle voice." Loudly describes the volume of a sound: "He shouted loudly across the room." You can read something aloud very quietly, but you cannot describe silent reading as loudly, since loudly always implies noise or volume.
What is the verb form of allowed?
The base verb is "allow," meaning to give permission for something: "The manager allows flexible working hours." Allowed is the past tense and past participle form: "She was allowed to leave early" (past participle, passive structure) or "They allowed him to stay" (simple past tense, active structure). Both forms relate strictly to permission, never to sound.
Can "allowed" ever relate to sound?
No — allowed never relates to sound or speaking. It is always about permission: what is or is not permitted, granted, or authorised. If you are describing something spoken with the voice rather than thought silently, you always need aloud, spelled with no "w" and no double "l": a-l-o-u-d.
How is "allowed to" used with modal-like structures?
"Allowed to" functions similarly to modal verbs like "can" or "may" when expressing permission, but it is a full verb phrase, not a modal: "You are allowed to park here" (present); "We were allowed to leave early" (past); "You will be allowed to enter after 9am" (future). Unlike modals, "allowed to" can be used in all tenses and with "to" plus the base verb, making it more flexible than "can" for talking about permission across time.
Why do allowed and aloud sound the same?
Allowed and aloud are homophones because both are pronounced /əˈlaʊd/ in most English accents, despite their different spellings and origins. Allowed derives from the verb "allow" plus the "-ed" ending; aloud derives from the older phrase "on loud," which fused into a single adverb over time. English contains many such homophone pairs where unrelated word histories happen to converge on the same pronunciation.
What is a common exam mistake with allowed vs aloud?
A very common mistake in exams and essays is writing "we are not aloud to use calculators" instead of "we are not allowed to use calculators." Because the words are pronounced identically, learners often write the wrong one automatically. To avoid this, always check: is the sentence about permission (use allowed) or about speaking/reading with your voice (use aloud)?