Cool MateVulnerable vs You're weak
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Vulnerable
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
You're weak
Top 2,000 (common)
| Vulnerable | You're weak | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈvʌlnərəbl//🇺🇸 //ˈvʌlnərəbəl// | 🇬🇧 //jʊəʳ wiːk//🇺🇸 //jʊr wik// |
| Meaning | Able to be easily harmed or hurt. | You are not strong. |
| Example | Children are especially vulnerable to bullying at school. | After losing the match, he told himself, 'You're weak.' |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | vulnerable population, vulnerable position, vulnerable state | feel weak, act weak, appear weak |
| Antonyms | invulnerable, protected, safe | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'invulnerable', which means incapable of being wounded., Used inappropriately in informal contexts when describing strong entities., Omitted the context of emotional vs physical vulnerability. | Incorrectly used as a compliment., Confused with 'you are weak-willed'., Used inappropriately in formal situations. |
| Usage notes | Used to describe people, animals, or things that are weak or exposed to harm. Appropriate in both formal and informal settings. | Can be offensive or harsh depending on the context. Use with caution, especially in sensitive situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Vulnerable vs You're weak
What's the difference between Vulnerable and You're weak?
Vulnerable: Able to be easily harmed or hurt. You're weak: You are not strong.
Can you show an example of each?
Vulnerable: Children are especially vulnerable to bullying at school. You're weak: After losing the match, he told himself, 'You're weak.'
Can I use Vulnerable and You're weak interchangeably?
Not always. Vulnerable and You're weak 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.