Smell vs Stink

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Smell

Top 1,000 (very common) A2

Stink

Top 2,000 (common)

Most common: Smell

	Smell	Stink
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/smel/","/smelz/","/smeld/","/smelt/","/ˈsmelɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/smel/","/smelz/","/smeld/","/smelt/","/ˈsmelɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 //stɪŋk// 🇺🇸 //stɪŋk//
Meaning	To sense something by the nose.	To smell very bad.
Example	I love the smell of fresh coffee in the morning.	The garbage can started to stink after a week.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	A2	-
Collocations	strongly, faintly, slightly, like, of, almost, practically, can, almost, practically, can	stink of, really stink, stink up, make things stink, stink to high heaven
Antonyms	taste, sight, sound	sweet, fragrance, perfume
Common mistakes	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.'	Confused with 'stunk' - remember it's present tense., Using 'stink' with only a subject - needs an object., Mixing up with 'smell' - 'stink' is more negative.
Usage notes	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.	Often used informally. Can refer to bad smells or unpleasant situations. Avoid in formal writing.

See it in real clips

It's the smell.

Smell

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

No more slinker. No more stinker.

Breaking Bad › S1 E2

Try dragging 200 pounds of stink up a flight of stairs.

... your stink.

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

No more slinker. No more stinker.

Breaking Bad › S1 E2

Try dragging 200 pounds of stink up a flight of stairs.

Stink

Frequently asked questions: Smell vs Stink

What's the difference between Smell and Stink?

Smell: To sense something by the nose. Stink: To smell very bad.

Which is more common: Smell and Stink?

Smell is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Smell: I love the smell of fresh coffee in the morning. Stink: The garbage can started to stink after a week.

Can I use Smell and Stink interchangeably?

Not always. Smell and Stink 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.