Cool MateHe's foul enough vs Mean
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
He's foul enough
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Mean
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Most formal: MeanMost common: Mean
| He's foul enough | Mean | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //hiːz faʊl ɪˈnʌf//🇺🇸 //hiːz faʊl ɪˈnʌf// | 🇬🇧 /["/miːn/","/miːnz/","/ment/","/ˈmiːnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/miːn/","/miːnz/","/ment/","/ˈmiːnɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | He is very rude or unpleasant. | unpleasant or cruel; unkind. |
| Example | I can't believe he's foul enough to insult her in public. | What does this word mean in English? |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | foul enough behavior, foul enough words, foul enough attitude | mean attitude, mean comments, mean person, mean joke |
| Antonyms | nice, pleasant, kind | kind, generous, nice |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'he's found enough', which has a different meaning., Overusing in polite company, where it may be seen as disrespectful. | Confused with 'mean' as in average or mathematical average., Misused as an adjective without an object (e.g., 'She is mean' usually needs context)., Overused to describe minor annoyances rather than significant unkindness. |
| Usage notes | Use in casual conversations to express disapproval. Avoid in formal settings. | Use 'mean' when describing someone's unkind behavior. It is neutral but can be perceived as informal in some contexts. Avoid using it in formal settings or when discussing intentions. |
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Frequently asked questions: He's foul enough vs Mean
What's the difference between He's foul enough and Mean?
He's foul enough: He is very rude or unpleasant. Mean: unpleasant or cruel; unkind.
Which is more formal: He's foul enough and Mean?
Mean is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: He's foul enough and Mean?
Mean is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
He's foul enough: I can't believe he's foul enough to insult her in public. Mean: What does this word mean in English?
Can I use He's foul enough and Mean interchangeably?
Not always. He's foul enough and Mean 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.