Spirits vs There are five wraiths behind you

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

Spirits

Top 3,000 (common)

There are five wraiths behind you

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Spirits
 SpiritsThere are five wraiths behind you
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ˈspɪr.ɪts//🇺🇸 //ˈspɪr.ɪts//🇬🇧 //ðeə ə faɪv reɪθs bɪˈhaɪnd jʊ//🇺🇸 //ðɛr ɑr faɪv reɪθs bɪˈhaɪnd jʊ//
MeaningDrinks that have alcohol, like whiskey or vodka.Five ghostly beings are positioned behind you.
ExampleThey celebrated with spirits after the big win.In the dark of the night, I realized there are five wraiths behind you.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 3,000 (common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Collocationsstrong spirits, clear spirits, mixed spirits, local spirits, distilled spiritsthere are many, dark wraiths, wraiths in a game, fear of wraiths, ghostly wraiths
Antonymsbody, material-
Common mistakesConfuse with 'spirit' (singular) when talking about emotions., Use 'spirit' for alcoholic drinks mistakenly., Overgeneralize by using 'spirits' for all beverages.Confused with 'wraths' (anger) versus 'wraiths' (ghosts)., Omitting 'there are' and making it sound unnatural., Using 'wraith' in singular form when plural is needed.
Usage notesUsed in both formal and informal contexts. When referring to emotions, use in a more relaxed manner. Avoid in technical discussions about medicine.This phrase is suitable for storytelling or gaming contexts. Avoid using it in formal writing.

See it in real clips

Spirits
There are five wraiths behind you

Frequently asked questions: Spirits vs There are five wraiths behind you

What's the difference between Spirits and There are five wraiths behind you?

Spirits: Drinks that have alcohol, like whiskey or vodka. There are five wraiths behind you: Five ghostly beings are positioned behind you.

Which is more common: Spirits and There are five wraiths behind you?

Spirits is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Spirits: They celebrated with spirits after the big win. There are five wraiths behind you: In the dark of the night, I realized there are five wraiths behind you.

Can I use Spirits and There are five wraiths behind you interchangeably?

Not always. Spirits and There are five wraiths behind you 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.

Related comparisons