Cool MateGuilt vs Regret
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Guilt
Regret
| Guilt | Regret | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɡɪlt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɡɪlt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈɡret/","/rɪˈɡrets/","/rɪˈɡretɪd/","/rɪˈɡretɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈɡret/","/rɪˈɡrets/","/rɪˈɡretɪd/","/rɪˈɡretɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | A feeling of being bad or wrong about something you did. | To feel sad or sorry about something you did or didn't do. |
| Example | She felt overwhelming guilt after realizing she had forgotten her friend's birthday. | I regret not studying harder for my exams. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb |
| Collocations | intense, overwhelming, terrible, pang, twinge, bear, carry, be consumed with, overwhelm somebody, wash over somebody, consume somebody, complex, feelings, trip, guilt about, guilt at, guilt over, a burden of guilt, a feeling of guilt, a sense of guilt, admit, confess, deny, lie, an admission of guilt, proof of guilt, admit, confess, deny, lie, an admission of guilt, proof of guilt | bitterly, deeply, greatly, begin to, come to, grow to, bitterly, deeply, greatly, begin to, come to, grow to |
| Antonyms | innocence, blamelessness | satisfaction, contentment, pride |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'guilt' with 'guilty' — 'guilt' is a noun, 'guilty' is an adjective., Using 'guilt' when 'regret' is more appropriate., Omitting 'of' when saying 'guilt of something' instead of 'guilt for something'. | 'Regret' is often confused with 'remorse'. Remorse includes a stronger sense of guilt., Learners might say 'I regret to do...' instead of 'I regret doing...'., Confusion between 'regret' and 'regrettable' which is an adjective. |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts, often when discussing feelings of remorse or regret. It may not be suitable for lighthearted conversations. | Use 'regret' to express feelings about past actions. It's appropriate in neutral to formal contexts, but less so in casual conversations where simpler phrases might fit better. |
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Frequently asked questions: Guilt vs Regret
What's the difference between Guilt and Regret?
Guilt: A feeling of being bad or wrong about something you did. Regret: To feel sad or sorry about something you did or didn't do.
Which is more common: Guilt and Regret?
Regret is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Guilt and Regret?
Guilt is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Guilt and Regret the same CEFR level?
Guilt: C1, Regret: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Guilt and Regret?
Guilt: noun, Regret: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Guilt: She felt overwhelming guilt after realizing she had forgotten her friend's birthday. Regret: I regret not studying harder for my exams.
Can I use Guilt and Regret interchangeably?
Not always. Guilt and Regret 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.