Cool MateBoot vs Kick
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Boot
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Kick
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
| Boot | Kick | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/buːt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/buːt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/kɪk/","/kɪks/","/kɪkt/","/ˈkɪkɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kɪk/","/kɪks/","/kɪkt/","/ˈkɪkɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | A type of shoe that covers the foot and goes up the ankle or higher. | To hit something with your foot. |
| Example | I bought a new pair of boots for winter. | The soccer player will kick the ball towards the goal. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb |
| Collocations | heavy, light, lightweight, pair, have on, wear, put on, polish, as tough as old boots, the toe of somebody’s boot, car, open, close, shut, in the boot | hard, savagely, viciously, against, at, in, kick a door down, kick a door open, kick a door shut, frantically, furiously, wildly, out at, with, drag somebody kicking and screaming, kick your legs, your legs kick |
| Antonyms | sandal, slipper | stop, catch |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'boot' as a verb meaning to start a computer., Using 'boot' to refer to shoes that don't cover the ankle., Incorrectly pluralizing 'boot' as 'bootses'. | Confused with 'kicked' vs 'kick' (tense errors), Using 'kick' without an object when needed (e.g., 'He kicked the ball'), Misusing the phrase 'kick off' (not understanding its different meanings) |
| Usage notes | Use 'boot' in both casual and formal contexts when referring to footwear. Not suitable for describing non-footwear items, like a computer boot. | Commonly used in sports or play. In informal contexts, it can also mean to stop doing something (e.g., 'kick the habit'). Avoid in very formal writing. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Boot vs Kick
What's the difference between Boot and Kick?
Boot: A type of shoe that covers the foot and goes up the ankle or higher. Kick: To hit something with your foot.
Which is more advanced: Boot and Kick?
Kick is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Boot and Kick the same CEFR level?
Boot: A1, Kick: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Boot and Kick?
Boot: noun, Kick: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Boot: I bought a new pair of boots for winter. Kick: The soccer player will kick the ball towards the goal.
Can I use Boot and Kick interchangeably?
Not always. Boot and Kick 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.