Cool MateInjured vs Wounded
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Injured
Top 2,000 (common)B1
Wounded
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Injured
| Injured | Wounded | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɪndʒəd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɪndʒərd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈwuːndɪd//🇺🇸 //ˈwuːndɪd// |
| Meaning | hurt or harmed in some way | Hurt or injured |
| Example | After the accident, several people were injured and needed medical attention. | The soldier was sadly wounded during the battle. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Collocations | be, lie, get, badly, critically, gravely | wounded soldier, wounded animal, wounded heart, wounded pride, wounded feelings |
| Antonyms | healed, uninjured, fit | unharmed, healed, safe |
| Common mistakes | 'Injured' is often mistakenly used for emotional harm., Learners might confuse 'injured' with 'ill' which refers to sickness., Overusing 'injured' when 'hurt' could be simpler. | Using 'wounded' incorrectly for someone who is upset instead of just hurt., Confusing 'wounded' with 'wound', which is the past tense of wound., Exclusively using 'wounded' in military contexts, ignoring its broader meanings. |
| Usage notes | Use 'injured' in contexts where someone has been hurt in an accident or while playing sports. Avoid using it in overly formal writing. | Typically used to describe physical injuries but can also refer to emotional pain. It is appropriate in both written and spoken contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Injured vs Wounded
What's the difference between Injured and Wounded?
Injured: hurt or harmed in some way Wounded: Hurt or injured
Which is more common: Injured and Wounded?
Injured is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Injured: After the accident, several people were injured and needed medical attention. Wounded: The soldier was sadly wounded during the battle.
Can I use Injured and Wounded interchangeably?
Not always. Injured and Wounded 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.