Cool MateDangerous vs Risky
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Dangerous
Top 2,000 (common)A1adjective
Risky
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
| Dangerous | Risky | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdeɪndʒərəs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdeɪndʒərəs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈrɪski/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈrɪski/"]/ |
| Meaning | likely to cause harm or injury | Something that can cause harm or danger. |
| Example | The roller coaster is too dangerous for young children. | Life as an aid worker can be a **risky business** *(= dangerous)*. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, for, to | be, look, prove, extremely, fairly, very |
| Antonyms | safe, harmless, secure | safe, secure, certain |
| Common mistakes | Using 'dangerous' when 'risk' or 'hazardous' is more accurate., Confusing 'dangerous' with 'endangered'., Using 'dengerous' as an adverb; it should only be an adjective. | Confused with 'risky' vs 'riskful' (the latter is not commonly used), Using 'risky' as a noun (it's an adjective), Incorrectly spelling 'risky' as 'risquee' |
| Usage notes | Use 'dangerous' to describe things that can cause harm. It's appropriate in most contexts, but be cautious in very casual situations where simpler words may work better. | Use 'risky' when describing actions or decisions that could lead to loss or harm. It's suitable in most contexts, but avoid it in very formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Dangerous vs Risky
What's the difference between Dangerous and Risky?
Dangerous: likely to cause harm or injury Risky: Something that can cause harm or danger.
Which is more advanced: Dangerous and Risky?
Risky is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Dangerous and Risky the same CEFR level?
Dangerous: A1, Risky: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Dangerous and Risky?
Dangerous: adjective, Risky: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Dangerous: The roller coaster is too dangerous for young children. Risky: Life as an aid worker can be a **risky business** *(= dangerous)*.
Can I use Dangerous and Risky interchangeably?
Not always. Dangerous and Risky 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.