Cool MateReek vs Smell
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Reek
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Smell
Top 1,000 (very common)A2
Most common: Smell
| Reek | Smell | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //riːk//🇺🇸 //rik// | 🇬🇧 /["/smel/","/smelz/","/smeld/","/smelt/","/ˈsmelɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/smel/","/smelz/","/smeld/","/smelt/","/ˈsmelɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To have a strong bad smell. | To sense something by the nose. |
| Example | The garbage in the corner began to reek after a few days. | I love the smell of fresh coffee in the morning. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Collocations | reek of smoke, reek of alcohol, reek of decomposing matter, reek of sweat, reek of fish | strongly, faintly, slightly, like, of, almost, practically, can, almost, practically, can |
| Antonyms | freshen, clean, sweeten | taste, sight, sound |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'reek' vs 'reeked'; 'reeked' is past tense., Using 'reek' without a preposition like 'of' for clarity., Mixing it up with similar sounding words like 'wreak'. | Confusing 'smell' as a noun and verb; remember 'I smell flowers' vs 'The smell of flowers is nice.', Omitting the object, like saying 'I smell' without specifying what., Using 'smell' inappropriately with non-sensory descriptions, such as 'I smell to be happy.' |
| Usage notes | Use 'reek' in neutral to slightly negative contexts. Avoid in formal writing as it may seem informal or overly strong. | Used when describing a scent or fragrance. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts, but may be less common in very scientific discussions. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Reek vs Smell
What's the difference between Reek and Smell?
Reek: To have a strong bad smell. Smell: To sense something by the nose.
Which is more common: Reek and Smell?
Smell is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Reek: The garbage in the corner began to reek after a few days. Smell: I love the smell of fresh coffee in the morning.
Can I use Reek and Smell interchangeably?
Not always. Reek and Smell 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.