Cool MateFragile vs Weak
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Fragile
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
Weak
Top 1,000 (very common)A2
Most common: Weak
| Fragile | Weak | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈfrædʒ.aɪl//🇺🇸 //ˈfrædʒaɪl// | 🇬🇧 /["/wiːk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/wiːk/"]/ |
| Meaning | Easily broken or damaged. | Not strong or powerful. |
| Example | The fragile vase shattered into pieces when it fell off the shelf. | She felt weak after running the marathon. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | fragile glass, fragile state, fragile peace | appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, at, from, in, weak at the knees, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, at, from, in, weak at the knees, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, at, from, in, weak at the knees |
| Antonyms | sturdy, durable, strong | strong, powerful, robust |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'fragility' which is the noun form., Overly general use; 'fragile' should be specific, not applied to strong or resistant items., Using 'fragile' to describe abstract concepts without clarity. | Confused with 'week' (the time period), Using 'weak' to describe intelligence instead of 'not intelligent', Overusing 'weak' to describe emotions, which can be seen as negative or stigmatizing |
| Usage notes | Used to describe objects that are delicate. In more emotional contexts, can denote vulnerability. Avoid in informal or slang settings. | Used to describe physical strength, emotional resilience, or ineffective arguments. Avoid using it in formal academic contexts to describe theories or ideas. |
Frequently asked questions: Fragile vs Weak
What's the difference between Fragile and Weak?
Fragile: Easily broken or damaged. Weak: Not strong or powerful.
Which is more common: Fragile and Weak?
Weak is the most common in everyday English.
Are Fragile and Weak the same CEFR level?
Fragile: C1, Weak: A2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Fragile and Weak interchangeably?
Not always. Fragile and Weak 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.