Cool MateDamage vs Hurt vs Injure
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Damage
Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
Hurt
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Injure
Top 2,000 (common)B1verb
| Damage | Hurt | Injure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdæmɪdʒ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdæmɪdʒ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/hɜːt/","/hɜːts/","/ˈhɜːtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/hɜːrt/","/hɜːrts/","/ˈhɜːrtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɪndʒə(r)/","/ˈɪndʒəz/","/ˈɪndʒəd/","/ˈɪndʒərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪndʒər/","/ˈɪndʒərz/","/ˈɪndʒərd/","/ˈɪndʒərɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Harm or hurt something. | to cause pain or damage to someone or something | to hurt someone or something |
| Example | The storm caused significant damage to the roof. | I accidentally hurt my knee while playing soccer. | He didn't mean to injure his friend during the game. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | A2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb | verb |
| Collocations | considerable, enormous, great, cause, do, inflict, occur, result, assessment, report, control, damage by, damage from, damage to, the cost of the damage, the damage is done, the extent of the damage, considerable, enormous, great, cause, do, inflict, occur, result, assessment, report, control, damage by, damage from, damage to, the cost of the damage, the damage is done, the extent of the damage, civil, substantial, punitive, incur, suffer, claim, action, claim, award, in damage, damage for, damage of, an action for damages, a claim for damages | badly, seriously, actually, badly, a lot, really, be going to, begin to, badly, deeply, really, attempt to, try to, want to | badly, seriously, severely, seriously, severely, be likely to |
| Antonyms | repair, restore, fix | heal, comfort, soothe | heal, protect, repair |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'damage' with 'damages', which refers to monetary compensation., Using 'damaged' incorrectly as a noun., Mixing up 'damage' (noun) with 'damaging' (verb form). | Confused with 'hurted' instead of 'hurt', Using 'hurt' as a noun instead of a verb, Mixing up 'hurt' with 'harmed' in contexts where they don't mean the same | Confused with 'harm' — 'injure' specifically refers to physical damage., Using 'injure' with non-physical subjects (e.g., 'injure feelings')., Mixing up 'injure' with 'injury' — one is a verb and the other is a noun. |
| Usage notes | Use 'damage' when talking about physical harm or loss. It can be used in both written and spoken contexts. Avoid using it in very casual situations; instead, use 'hurt' or 'harm' for simpler contexts. | Use 'hurt' when talking about physical or emotional pain. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts but avoid it in overly formal writing. Saying someone 'hurt my feelings' is common. | Use in contexts related to physical harm. Avoid in casual conversations unless discussing sports or accidents. |
Frequently asked questions: Damage vs Hurt vs Injure
What's the difference between Damage, Hurt, and Injure?
Damage: Harm or hurt something. Hurt: to cause pain or damage to someone or something Injure: to hurt someone or something
Are Damage, Hurt, and Injure the same CEFR level?
Damage: B1, Hurt: A2, Injure: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Damage, Hurt, and Injure?
Damage: noun, Hurt: verb, Injure: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Damage: The storm caused significant damage to the roof. Hurt: I accidentally hurt my knee while playing soccer. Injure: He didn't mean to injure his friend during the game.
Can I use Damage, Hurt, and Injure interchangeably?
Not always. Damage, Hurt, and Injure 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.