Bottom vs Bums

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Bottom

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 noun

Bums

Informal Top 5,000 (fairly common)

Most formal: Bottom Most common: Bottom

	Bottom	Bums
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈbɒtəm/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈbɑːtəm/"]/	🇬🇧 //bʌmz// 🇺🇸 //bʌmz//
Meaning	The lowest part of something.	Buttocks or rear part of the body.
Example	He fell to the bottom of the hill after tripping.	She fell and landed on her bums.
Register	Neutral	Informal
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 5,000 (fairly common)
CEFR level	A2	-
Part of speech	noun
Collocations	false, arrive at, fall to, get to, end, half, along the bottom, at the bottom, from the bottom, false, arrive at, fall to, get to, end, half, along the bottom, at the bottom, from the bottom, false, arrive at, fall to, get to, end, half, along the bottom, at the bottom, from the bottom, false, arrive at, fall to, get to, end, half, along the bottom, at the bottom, from the bottom, start at, work up from, at the bottom, near the bottom, towards/​toward the bottom, bare, slap, smack, spank, false, arrive at, fall to, get to, end, half, along the bottom, at the bottom, from the bottom	show your bums, sore bums, big bums, cute bums, fall on your bums
Antonyms	top, peak, summit	persistence, success
Common mistakes	Confused with 'base' in certain contexts., Using 'bottom' when 'end' is more appropriate., Mixing up 'bottom' as a noun and a verb.	Confused with 'bums' as in lazy people., Misunderstanding the plural form when referring to a single person., Using it in formal situations where 'buttocks' is more appropriate.
Usage notes	Use 'bottom' when referring to the lowest part of an object, surface, or concept. It is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it in highly technical discussions where specific terminology is required.	Primarily used in informal contexts when talking about the human body. Avoid in formal settings. Can refer to people as well as the body part.

See it in real clips

How I Met Your Mother › S1 E1

If the bottom bunk moves, the top bunk moves, too.

Breaking Bad › S1 E2

Look at the bottom for a triangle

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

- You're from Flea Bottom? - No.

How I Met Your Mother › S1 E1

If the bottom bunk moves, the top bunk moves, too.

Breaking Bad › S1 E2

Look at the bottom for a triangle

Bottom

In my day, we had real ballplayers. Who are these bums?

Bums

Frequently asked questions: Bottom vs Bums

What's the difference between Bottom and Bums?

Bottom: The lowest part of something. Bums: Buttocks or rear part of the body.

Which is more formal: Bottom and Bums?

Bottom is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Bottom and Bums?

Bottom is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Bottom: He fell to the bottom of the hill after tripping. Bums: She fell and landed on her bums.

Can I use Bottom and Bums interchangeably?

Not always. Bottom and Bums are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.