Foul vs Stinkin'

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

Foul

Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Stinkin'

Slang Top 5,000 (fairly common)

Most formal: Foul Most common: Stinkin'

	Foul	Stinkin'
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //faʊl// 🇺🇸 //faʊl//	🇬🇧 //ˈstɪŋ.kɪn// 🇺🇸 //ˈstɪŋ.kɪn//
Meaning	A bad or unfair action in a game or sport.	Smelly or bad.
Example	He received a yellow card for a 'foul' during the match.	That cheese smells stinkin' bad!
Register	Neutral	Slang
How common	Beyond 10,000 (less common)	Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Collocations	commit a foul, serious foul, foul play	stinkin' rich, stinkin' cute, stinkin' hot, stinkin' good
Antonyms	fair play, honor	pleasant, clean, fresh
Common mistakes	Confused with 'fowl', which means bird., Using 'foul' in a non-sport context incorrectly., Mistaking 'foul' for 'foul play' when discussing wrongdoing.	Confused with 'stinky', thinking they are interchangeable in all contexts., Using 'stinkin'' too formally or in inappropriate situations., Mispronouncing it without the informal contraction.
Usage notes	Commonly used in sports contexts to describe illegal actions. Avoid in formal writing unless discussing rules.	Used informally to describe unpleasant odors or to express discontent. Avoid in formal contexts.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Send these foul beasts into the abyss.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

a foul and fiery demise.

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Send these foul beasts into the abyss.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

a foul and fiery demise.

Foul

- I'm stinkin' like a dog over here. - I like the way you stink.

Stinkin'

Frequently asked questions: Foul vs Stinkin'

What's the difference between Foul and Stinkin'?

Foul: A bad or unfair action in a game or sport. Stinkin': Smelly or bad.

Which is more formal: Foul and Stinkin'?

Foul is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Foul and Stinkin'?

Stinkin' is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Foul: He received a yellow card for a 'foul' during the match. Stinkin': That cheese smells stinkin' bad!

Can I use Foul and Stinkin' interchangeably?

Not always. Foul and Stinkin' 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.