Naval vs. Navel: Navy or Belly Button?

The Difference

• Naval = relating to a navy or warships
• Navel = the belly button; the central point of something

Using Naval

“Naval” is an adjective relating to maritime military forces:

• “He served as a naval officer for twenty years.” ✓
• “The naval battle changed the course of the war.” ✓
• “She graduated from the Naval Academy.” ✓
• “Naval intelligence tracked the submarine.” ✓

Using Navel

“Navel” is a noun referring to the belly button or center:

• “The doctor examined the newborn’s navel.” ✓
• “Navel oranges are seedless and sweet.” ✓ (named for the belly-button-like mark)
• “Excessive navel-gazing leads to self-absorption.” ✓ (metaphor for self-focus)

Memory Trick

• Naval = think “navy” (both have a Y… wait, naval has an A. Think: navAl = wArships)
• Navel = think “belly” (navel has an E like belly has an E)

Actually, simpler:

• Naval = ends in AL like “admiral” (military)
• Navel = ends in EL like “belly button” (body part… well, close enough!)

Common Error

• “Navel academy” ✗ → “Naval Academy” ✓
• “Naval orange” ✗ → “Navel orange” ✓