Cool MateI feel guilt vs Shame
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
I feel guilt
Top 2,000 (common)
Shame
Top 1,000 (very common)B2noun
Most common: Shame
| I feel guilt | Shame | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //aɪ fiːl ɡɪlt//🇺🇸 //aɪ fil ɡɪlt// | 🇬🇧 /["/ʃeɪm/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʃeɪm/"]/ |
| Meaning | I have a feeling of being bad about something I did. | A feeling of being embarrassed or guilty about something. |
| Example | I feel guilt about not visiting my grandmother last week. | He felt a deep sense of shame after realizing his mistake. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | feel guilt, overcome guilt, guilt trip, guilt about, guilt for | awful, great, real, shame about, a bit of a shame, rather a shame, such a shame, deep, secret, public, be filled with, feel, bring, from shame, in shame, to your shame, bow your head in shame, hang your head in shame, a feeling of shame, deep, secret, public, be filled with, feel, bring, from shame, in shame, to your shame, bow your head in shame, hang your head in shame, a feeling of shame, deep, secret, public, be filled with, feel, bring, from shame, in shame, to your shame, bow your head in shame, hang your head in shame, a feeling of shame |
| Antonyms | - | pride, honor, confidence |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'guilt' as a verb - 'guilt' is a noun., Using 'feels' instead of 'feel' with 'I' as the subject., Incorrectly using 'guilt' in positive contexts. | 'Shame' confused with 'guilt' - they're related but not the same., Using 'shame' inappropriately as an action verb, e.g., 'to shame someone' can be too strong in casual conversation., Mixing up 'shame' with 'shaming' – the former is a noun while the latter is a verb. |
| Usage notes | Use 'feel guilt' when expressing remorse. It is neutral and can be used in both spoken and written contexts. | Use 'shame' when talking about feelings of guilt or embarrassment. It's appropriate in most contexts but can feel heavy or serious. Avoid in light-hearted conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: I feel guilt vs Shame
What's the difference between I feel guilt and Shame?
I feel guilt: I have a feeling of being bad about something I did. Shame: A feeling of being embarrassed or guilty about something.
Which is more common: I feel guilt and Shame?
Shame is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
I feel guilt: I feel guilt about not visiting my grandmother last week. Shame: He felt a deep sense of shame after realizing his mistake.
Can I use I feel guilt and Shame interchangeably?
Not always. I feel guilt and Shame 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.