Cool MateDanger vs Risk
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Danger
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Risk
Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
| Danger | Risk | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdeɪndʒə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdeɪndʒər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪsk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪsk/"]/ |
| Meaning | A situation where something bad can happen. | the chance of something bad happening |
| Example | The storm brought a danger to the village. | There is a risk involved in investing in the stock market. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | big, considerable, enormous, be exposed to, face, be fraught with, await, exist, face somebody, area, point, spot, in danger, in danger of, out of danger, be off the danger list, be on the danger list, big, considerable, enormous, be exposed to, face, be fraught with, await, exist, face somebody, area, point, spot, in danger, in danger of, out of danger, be off the danger list, be on the danger list, big, considerable, enormous, be exposed to, face, be fraught with, await, exist, face somebody, area, point, spot, in danger, in danger of, out of danger, be off the danger list, be on the danger list | big, considerable, enormous, degree, level, element, face, run, take, outweigh something, group, factor, assessment, at risk, at risk from, at risk of, at your own risk, an increase in risk, a reduction in risk, big, considerable, enormous, degree, level, element, face, run, take, outweigh something, group, factor, assessment, at risk, at risk from, at risk of, at your own risk, an increase in risk, a reduction in risk, big, considerable, enormous, degree, level, element, face, run, take, outweigh something, group, factor, assessment, at risk, at risk from, at risk of, at your own risk, an increase in risk, a reduction in risk |
| Antonyms | safety, security, protection | safety, certainty |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'dangerous' as the same word., Using in positive contexts (danger is negative)., Overusing in casual dialogues, leading to ambiguity. | Confusing risk with danger - risk is about possibility, while danger implies a higher chance of harm., Using 'risks' as a singular noun - remember to use the correct plural or singular form., Omitting the object when saying 'risk' - always specify what is being risked. |
| Usage notes | Used in both written and spoken contexts. Appropriate for discussions about safety, risk, or warnings. Avoid in overly casual conversations. | Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. When discussing financial matters, 'risk' is frequent; however, it may not be appropriate in casual conversation about personal matters unless framed carefully. |
Frequently asked questions: Danger vs Risk
What's the difference between Danger and Risk?
Danger: A situation where something bad can happen. Risk: the chance of something bad happening
Are Danger and Risk the same CEFR level?
Danger: A2, Risk: B1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Danger and Risk interchangeably?
Not always. Danger and Risk 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.