The difference between sick and ill
I feel ill or sick. Both mean the same. But when they modify a noun, do they mean the same? For example,
Sentence A: He is a sick person.
Sentence B: He is an ill person.
Do they mean the same?
I want to know the difference because 'ill' can mean 'bad' in some senses.
usage
asked 4 hours ago
Little PapaLittle Papa
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I feel ill or sick. Both mean the same. But when they modify a noun, do they mean the same? For example,
Sentence A: He is a sick person.
Sentence B: He is an ill person.
Do they mean the same?
I want to know the difference because 'ill' can mean 'bad' in some senses.
usage
asked 4 hours ago
Little PapaLittle Papa
134
New contributor
Little Papa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
I feel ill or sick. Both mean the same. But when they modify a noun, do they mean the same? For example,
Sentence A: He is a sick person.
Sentence B: He is an ill person.
Do they mean the same?
I want to know the difference because 'ill' can mean 'bad' in some senses.
usage
asked 4 hours ago
Little PapaLittle Papa
134
New contributor
Little Papa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I feel ill or sick. Both mean the same. But when they modify a noun, do they mean the same? For example,
Sentence A: He is a sick person.
Sentence B: He is an ill person.
Do they mean the same?
I want to know the difference because 'ill' can mean 'bad' in some senses.
usage
usage
asked 4 hours ago
Little PapaLittle Papa
134
New contributor
Little Papa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
Little PapaLittle Papa
134
New contributor
Little Papa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
Little PapaLittle Papa
134
New contributor
Little Papa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 4 hours ago
Little PapaLittle Papa
134
asked 4 hours ago
Little PapaLittle Papa
134
134
New contributor
Little Papa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Little Papa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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As you've already said, ill can mean bad in some senses. But so can sick. In fact, sick is the more common word if you want to describe somebody in the bad sense. (However, sick can also be used as a slang term for cool or awesome.)
Context determines the meaning:
That serial killer is one sick individual.
Ill intentions often result in ill deeds.
If you mean physically unwell, neither of your sentences would be normal. By adding person, you are implying the bad sense.
The best way to describe someone who is unwell, and have it be interpreted as you want, is to add the word feeling:
He is feeling sick.
He is feeling ill.
Or:
He isn't feeling well.
It's also common to say (in informal dialogue):
"He isn't feeling good."
In terms of describing being physically unwell, sick and ill are mostly used interchangeably.
But per Google Books NGram Viewer, sick seems to be the more common of the two words.
answered 4 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
13.6k22035
Also, in a slang context, I've heard "ill" as a more positive adjective (Beastie Boys song "Time to Get Ill"). "Sick" can be used in the same way.
– user45266
4 hours ago
Thank you very much, @Jason Bassford. I can now understand from your explanation that the meaning has to be deduced from context rather than words themselves.
– Little Papa
3 hours ago
In British English, to 'be sick' commonly means to vomit, and what is produced can be called 'sick' (mass noun). Child: what's for dinner, Daddy? Father, jocularly: a cup of cold sick!
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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oldest
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As you've already said, ill can mean bad in some senses. But so can sick. In fact, sick is the more common word if you want to describe somebody in the bad sense. (However, sick can also be used as a slang term for cool or awesome.)
Context determines the meaning:
That serial killer is one sick individual.
Ill intentions often result in ill deeds.
If you mean physically unwell, neither of your sentences would be normal. By adding person, you are implying the bad sense.
The best way to describe someone who is unwell, and have it be interpreted as you want, is to add the word feeling:
He is feeling sick.
He is feeling ill.
Or:
He isn't feeling well.
It's also common to say (in informal dialogue):
"He isn't feeling good."
In terms of describing being physically unwell, sick and ill are mostly used interchangeably.
But per Google Books NGram Viewer, sick seems to be the more common of the two words.
answered 4 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
13.6k22035
Also, in a slang context, I've heard "ill" as a more positive adjective (Beastie Boys song "Time to Get Ill"). "Sick" can be used in the same way.
– user45266
4 hours ago
Thank you very much, @Jason Bassford. I can now understand from your explanation that the meaning has to be deduced from context rather than words themselves.
– Little Papa
3 hours ago
In British English, to 'be sick' commonly means to vomit, and what is produced can be called 'sick' (mass noun). Child: what's for dinner, Daddy? Father, jocularly: a cup of cold sick!
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
add a comment |
As you've already said, ill can mean bad in some senses. But so can sick. In fact, sick is the more common word if you want to describe somebody in the bad sense. (However, sick can also be used as a slang term for cool or awesome.)
Context determines the meaning:
That serial killer is one sick individual.
Ill intentions often result in ill deeds.
If you mean physically unwell, neither of your sentences would be normal. By adding person, you are implying the bad sense.
The best way to describe someone who is unwell, and have it be interpreted as you want, is to add the word feeling:
He is feeling sick.
He is feeling ill.
Or:
He isn't feeling well.
It's also common to say (in informal dialogue):
"He isn't feeling good."
In terms of describing being physically unwell, sick and ill are mostly used interchangeably.
But per Google Books NGram Viewer, sick seems to be the more common of the two words.
answered 4 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
13.6k22035
Also, in a slang context, I've heard "ill" as a more positive adjective (Beastie Boys song "Time to Get Ill"). "Sick" can be used in the same way.
– user45266
4 hours ago
Thank you very much, @Jason Bassford. I can now understand from your explanation that the meaning has to be deduced from context rather than words themselves.
– Little Papa
3 hours ago
In British English, to 'be sick' commonly means to vomit, and what is produced can be called 'sick' (mass noun). Child: what's for dinner, Daddy? Father, jocularly: a cup of cold sick!
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
add a comment |
As you've already said, ill can mean bad in some senses. But so can sick. In fact, sick is the more common word if you want to describe somebody in the bad sense. (However, sick can also be used as a slang term for cool or awesome.)
Context determines the meaning:
That serial killer is one sick individual.
Ill intentions often result in ill deeds.
If you mean physically unwell, neither of your sentences would be normal. By adding person, you are implying the bad sense.
The best way to describe someone who is unwell, and have it be interpreted as you want, is to add the word feeling:
He is feeling sick.
He is feeling ill.
Or:
He isn't feeling well.
It's also common to say (in informal dialogue):
"He isn't feeling good."
In terms of describing being physically unwell, sick and ill are mostly used interchangeably.
But per Google Books NGram Viewer, sick seems to be the more common of the two words.
answered 4 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
13.6k22035
As you've already said, ill can mean bad in some senses. But so can sick. In fact, sick is the more common word if you want to describe somebody in the bad sense. (However, sick can also be used as a slang term for cool or awesome.)
Context determines the meaning:
That serial killer is one sick individual.
Ill intentions often result in ill deeds.
If you mean physically unwell, neither of your sentences would be normal. By adding person, you are implying the bad sense.
The best way to describe someone who is unwell, and have it be interpreted as you want, is to add the word feeling:
He is feeling sick.
He is feeling ill.
Or:
He isn't feeling well.
It's also common to say (in informal dialogue):
"He isn't feeling good."
In terms of describing being physically unwell, sick and ill are mostly used interchangeably.
But per Google Books NGram Viewer, sick seems to be the more common of the two words.
answered 4 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
13.6k22035
answered 4 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
13.6k22035
answered 4 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
13.6k22035
answered 4 hours ago
Jason BassfordJason Bassford
13.6k22035
13.6k22035
Also, in a slang context, I've heard "ill" as a more positive adjective (Beastie Boys song "Time to Get Ill"). "Sick" can be used in the same way.
– user45266
4 hours ago
Thank you very much, @Jason Bassford. I can now understand from your explanation that the meaning has to be deduced from context rather than words themselves.
– Little Papa
3 hours ago
In British English, to 'be sick' commonly means to vomit, and what is produced can be called 'sick' (mass noun). Child: what's for dinner, Daddy? Father, jocularly: a cup of cold sick!
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
add a comment |
Also, in a slang context, I've heard "ill" as a more positive adjective (Beastie Boys song "Time to Get Ill"). "Sick" can be used in the same way.
– user45266
4 hours ago
Thank you very much, @Jason Bassford. I can now understand from your explanation that the meaning has to be deduced from context rather than words themselves.
– Little Papa
3 hours ago
In British English, to 'be sick' commonly means to vomit, and what is produced can be called 'sick' (mass noun). Child: what's for dinner, Daddy? Father, jocularly: a cup of cold sick!
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
Also, in a slang context, I've heard "ill" as a more positive adjective (Beastie Boys song "Time to Get Ill"). "Sick" can be used in the same way.
– user45266
4 hours ago
Also, in a slang context, I've heard "ill" as a more positive adjective (Beastie Boys song "Time to Get Ill"). "Sick" can be used in the same way.
– user45266
4 hours ago
Thank you very much, @Jason Bassford. I can now understand from your explanation that the meaning has to be deduced from context rather than words themselves.
– Little Papa
3 hours ago
Thank you very much, @Jason Bassford. I can now understand from your explanation that the meaning has to be deduced from context rather than words themselves.
– Little Papa
3 hours ago
In British English, to 'be sick' commonly means to vomit, and what is produced can be called 'sick' (mass noun). Child: what's for dinner, Daddy? Father, jocularly: a cup of cold sick!
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
In British English, to 'be sick' commonly means to vomit, and what is produced can be called 'sick' (mass noun). Child: what's for dinner, Daddy? Father, jocularly: a cup of cold sick!
– Michael Harvey
1 hour ago
add a comment |
Little Papa is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Little Papa is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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