Cool MateHurt vs Injured
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hurt
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Injured
Top 2,000 (common)B1
Most common: Hurt
| Hurt | Injured | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/hɜːt/","/hɜːts/","/ˈhɜːtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/hɜːrt/","/hɜːrts/","/ˈhɜːrtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɪndʒəd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪndʒərd/"]/ |
| Meaning | to cause pain or damage to someone or something | hurt or harmed in some way |
| Example | I accidentally hurt my knee while playing soccer. | After the accident, several people were injured and needed medical attention. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | badly, seriously, actually, badly, a lot, really, be going to, begin to, badly, deeply, really, attempt to, try to, want to | be, lie, get, badly, critically, gravely |
| Antonyms | heal, comfort, soothe | healed, uninjured, fit |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'hurted' instead of 'hurt', Using 'hurt' as a noun instead of a verb, Mixing up 'hurt' with 'harmed' in contexts where they don't mean the same | 'Injured' is often mistakenly used for emotional harm., Learners might confuse 'injured' with 'ill' which refers to sickness., Overusing 'injured' when 'hurt' could be simpler. |
| Usage notes | Use 'hurt' when talking about physical or emotional pain. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts but avoid it in overly formal writing. Saying someone 'hurt my feelings' is common. | Use 'injured' in contexts where someone has been hurt in an accident or while playing sports. Avoid using it in overly formal writing. |
Frequently asked questions: Hurt vs Injured
What's the difference between Hurt and Injured?
Hurt: to cause pain or damage to someone or something Injured: hurt or harmed in some way
Which is more common: Hurt and Injured?
Hurt is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Hurt and Injured?
Injured is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Hurt and Injured the same CEFR level?
Hurt: A2, Injured: B1 on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Hurt: I accidentally hurt my knee while playing soccer. Injured: After the accident, several people were injured and needed medical attention.
Can I use Hurt and Injured interchangeably?
Not always. Hurt and Injured 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.