Cool MateHit vs Slap vs Strike
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hit
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Slap
InformalTop 2,000 (common)C1verb
Strike
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
| Hit | Slap | Strike | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/hɪt/","/hɪts/","/ˈhɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/hɪt/","/hɪts/","/ˈhɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/slæp/","/slæps/","/slæpt/","/ˈslæpɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/slæp/","/slæps/","/slæpt/","/ˈslæpɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/straɪk/","/straɪks/","/strʌk/","/ˈstraɪkɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/straɪk/","/straɪks/","/strʌk/","/ˈstraɪkɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To touch or strike something with force. | to hit someone or something with your hand quickly | to hit something or to stop working as a protest |
| Example | He decided to hit the ball with the bat. | She gave him a slap on the cheek to express her anger. | The workers decided to strike for better wages and working conditions. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | C1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | verb |
| Collocations | hard, repeatedly, directly, want to, be going to, in, on, with, hit somebody over the head, hard, repeatedly, directly, want to, be going to, in, on, with, hit somebody over the head, hard, repeatedly, directly, want to, be going to, in, on, with, hit somebody over the head, hard, repeatedly, directly, want to, be going to, in, on, with, hit somebody over the head, badly, hard, heavily | hard, gently, lightly, across, on, slap somebody in the face | firmly, hard, deep, be about to, be going to, be ready to, against, at, on, be struck by lightning, get struck by lightning, be struck down by something, firmly, hard, deep, be about to, be going to, be ready to, against, at, on, be struck by lightning, get struck by lightning, be struck down by something, firmly, hard, deep, be about to, be going to, be ready to, against, at, on, be struck by lightning, get struck by lightning, be struck down by something, immediately, suddenly, just, as, immediately, suddenly, just, as, threaten to, vote to, be set to, against, for, in protest at, the right to strike, firmly, hard, deep, be about to, be going to, be ready to, against, at, on, be struck by lightning, get struck by lightning, be struck down by something |
| Antonyms | miss, avoid, pass | caress, hug, embrace | surrender, accept |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'hit' when referring to success; use 'achieved' instead., Using 'hitted' instead of 'hit' for past tense., 'Hit' can be confused with 'strike' but is more casual. | Confused with 'slapstick' — they are related but different., Using 'slap' without an object, e.g., 'I slap' instead of 'I slap him.', Mixing it up with 'smack', which can have a slightly different connotation. | Confused with 'struck' as past tense, Using 'strike' for non-physical hits like arguments, Saying 'the worker strike' instead of 'the workers' strike' |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in both physical contexts (like hitting a ball) and metaphorical ones (like hitting a deadline). Avoid using it in overly formal contexts. | Used in casual contexts; can refer to hitting playfully or angrily. Avoid in formal situations or when discussing violence. Often used in comedic or light-hearted scenarios. | Use 'strike' when talking about hitting something or when workers stop working to demand change. It's neutral in tone, fitting for both formal and casual situations. Avoid in overly technical discussions about labor laws. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hit vs Slap vs Strike
What's the difference between Hit, Slap, and Strike?
Hit: To touch or strike something with force. Slap: to hit someone or something with your hand quickly Strike: to hit something or to stop working as a protest
Which is more advanced: Hit, Slap, and Strike?
Slap is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Hit, Slap, and Strike the same CEFR level?
Hit: A2, Slap: C1, Strike: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Hit, Slap, and Strike?
Hit: verb, Slap: verb, Strike: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Hit: He decided to hit the ball with the bat. Slap: She gave him a slap on the cheek to express her anger. Strike: The workers decided to strike for better wages and working conditions.
Can I use Hit, Slap, and Strike interchangeably?
Not always. Hit, Slap, and Strike 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.