Cool MateThey hurt you vs Torment
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
They hurt you
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Torment
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B1noun
| They hurt you | Torment | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ðeɪ hɜːt juː//🇺🇸 //ðeɪ hɜrt ju// | 🇬🇧 //ˈtɔː.mɛnt//🇺🇸 //ˈtɔːr.mɛnt// |
| Meaning | To cause you physical or emotional pain. | extreme pain or suffering |
| Example | They hurt you when they ignored your feelings. | The constant criticism was a source of great torment for her. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | hurt someone's feelings, hurt deeply, they hurt each other | mental torment, physical torment, torture and torment, live in torment, feel torment |
| Antonyms | - | comfort, relief, pleasure |
| Common mistakes | Using 'hurted' instead of 'hurt' as the past tense., Confusing with 'hurt' meaning injury with 'hurt' as in emotional pain., Not clarifying who 'they' is in conversations. | Confusing 'torment' with 'torture' – 'torture' has a stronger, more physical connotation., Using 'torment' in sentences without the right context, especially in casual settings., Mispronouncing the word, leading to misunderstandings. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used to describe emotional or physical pain. Avoid in formal contexts; consider alternatives for sensitive discussions. | Use 'torment' to describe severe emotional or physical suffering. It's neutral, suitable for both written and spoken contexts. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: They hurt you vs Torment
What's the difference between They hurt you and Torment?
They hurt you: To cause you physical or emotional pain. Torment: extreme pain or suffering
Can you show an example of each?
They hurt you: They hurt you when they ignored your feelings. Torment: The constant criticism was a source of great torment for her.
Can I use They hurt you and Torment interchangeably?
Not always. They hurt you and Torment 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.