Cool MateBums vs Butt
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Bums
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Butt
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most common: Butt
| Bums | Butt | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //bʌmz//🇺🇸 //bʌmz// | 🇬🇧 //bʌt//🇺🇸 //bʌt// |
| Meaning | Buttocks or rear part of the body. | The rounded part of a person's body where they sit. |
| Example | She fell and landed on her bums. | She fell and landed right on her butt. |
| Register | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | show your bums, sore bums, big bums, cute bums, fall on your bums | big butt, flat butt, booty butt, cute butt |
| Antonyms | persistence, success | front, head |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'bums' as in lazy people., Misunderstanding the plural form when referring to a single person., Using it in formal situations where 'buttocks' is more appropriate. | Confused with 'behind' or 'bottom', Using in formal writing, Not using figurative meanings |
| Usage notes | Primarily used in informal contexts when talking about the human body. Avoid in formal settings. Can refer to people as well as the body part. | Used mostly in casual conversations. Avoid in formal contexts. Can also refer to the end of something, like a cigarette. |
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Frequently asked questions: Bums vs Butt
What's the difference between Bums and Butt?
Bums: Buttocks or rear part of the body. Butt: The rounded part of a person's body where they sit.
Which is more common: Bums and Butt?
Butt is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Bums: She fell and landed on her bums. Butt: She fell and landed right on her butt.
Can I use Bums and Butt interchangeably?
Not always. Bums and Butt 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.