Cool MatePour vs Spills
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Pour
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Spills
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Pour
| Pour | Spills | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/pɔː(r)/","/pɔːz/","/pɔːd/","/ˈpɔːrɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pɔːr/","/pɔːrz/","/pɔːrd/","/ˈpɔːrɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //spɪlz//🇺🇸 //spɪlz// |
| Meaning | To make a liquid flow from one container to another. | When a liquid accidentally flows out of its container. |
| Example | I will pour the milk into the bowl. | She accidentally spills coffee all over her notebook. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | carefully, quickly, gradually, from, into, on, carefully, quickly, gradually, from, into, on | spill the beans, spill coffee, spill blood, spill over, spill your drink |
| Antonyms | fill, empty | contains, holds, retains |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'pour' with 'pore' or 'poor'., Using 'pour' as a noun instead of a verb., Saying 'pouring water into the cup' instead of 'pouring the cup with water'. | Confusing 'spill' with 'split' meaning to divide., Using 'spills' for solid substances instead of liquids., Saying 'spilling' instead of 'spills' in present tense. |
| Usage notes | Used when transferring liquids. Common in cooking, serving drinks, or filling containers. Avoid in formal writing. | Use 'spills' when referring to liquid accidentally flowing out. It's not appropriate for non-liquid substances. Both formal and informal contexts are acceptable. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Pour vs Spills
What's the difference between Pour and Spills?
Pour: To make a liquid flow from one container to another. Spills: When a liquid accidentally flows out of its container.
Which is more common: Pour and Spills?
Pour is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Pour: I will pour the milk into the bowl. Spills: She accidentally spills coffee all over her notebook.
Can I use Pour and Spills interchangeably?
Not always. Pour and Spills 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.