Cool MateHurt vs Injure
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hurt
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Injure
Top 2,000 (common)B1verb
Most common: Hurt
| Hurt | Injure | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/hɜːt/","/hɜːts/","/ˈhɜːtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/hɜːrt/","/hɜːrts/","/ˈhɜːrtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɪndʒə(r)/","/ˈɪndʒəz/","/ˈɪndʒəd/","/ˈɪndʒərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪndʒər/","/ˈɪndʒərz/","/ˈɪndʒərd/","/ˈɪndʒərɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | to cause pain or damage to someone or something | to hurt someone or something |
| Example | I accidentally hurt my knee while playing soccer. | He didn't mean to injure his friend during the game. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | badly, seriously, actually, badly, a lot, really, be going to, begin to, badly, deeply, really, attempt to, try to, want to | badly, seriously, severely, seriously, severely, be likely to |
| Antonyms | heal, comfort, soothe | heal, protect, repair |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'hurted' instead of 'hurt', Using 'hurt' as a noun instead of a verb, Mixing up 'hurt' with 'harmed' in contexts where they don't mean the same | Confused with 'harm' — 'injure' specifically refers to physical damage., Using 'injure' with non-physical subjects (e.g., 'injure feelings')., Mixing up 'injure' with 'injury' — one is a verb and the other is a noun. |
| Usage notes | Use 'hurt' when talking about physical or emotional pain. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts but avoid it in overly formal writing. Saying someone 'hurt my feelings' is common. | Use in contexts related to physical harm. Avoid in casual conversations unless discussing sports or accidents. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hurt vs Injure
What's the difference between Hurt and Injure?
Hurt: to cause pain or damage to someone or something Injure: to hurt someone or something
Which is more common: Hurt and Injure?
Hurt is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Hurt and Injure?
Injure is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Hurt and Injure the same CEFR level?
Hurt: A2, Injure: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Hurt and Injure?
Hurt: verb, Injure: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Hurt: I accidentally hurt my knee while playing soccer. Injure: He didn't mean to injure his friend during the game.
Can I use Hurt and Injure interchangeably?
Not always. Hurt and Injure 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.