These two nouns sound the same, and the difference is in the ending.
- A council is a group of people who meet to make decisions or run something.
- Counsel is advice, or a lawyer who advises and represents someone.
Council: a group
The school council meets every Tuesday.
The town council is planning a new park.
Counsel: advice
She took her friend's counsel and changed her plan.
The company asked its counsel, a lawyer, to check the contract.
Note that counsel can also be a verb: to counsel someone means to advise them.
💡 The OddLingo Trick
Ask one question: Is it a group of people? If yes, use council, and picture a committee around a table. If it is advice, or a lawyer who gives it, use counsel.
⚠️ Common mistakes
A group? Use council.
❌ The school counsel meets on Tuesday.
✅ The school council meets on Tuesday.
Advice? Use counsel.
❌ I need some council about my homework.
✅ I need some counsel about my homework.