What is hurt? Pronunciation and usage in English

hurt means . Learn how to pronounce and use hurt through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of hurt

hurtverb

/həːt/
Definition & pronunciation of hurt

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "hurt" in English. Here's a breakdown:

1. The Basic Sound:

  • "H" - This is a quick, almost silent "h." It's a very light tap of the tongue. Don't fully pronounce it.
  • "ur" - This is the tricky part. It's a diphthong, meaning it's a combination of two vowel sounds blended together.
    • The first part is a short, central "uh" sound – like the "u" in "cup" or "but.”
    • The second part is a very short, quick "er" sound – like the "er" in "her" or "bird." It's almost like you're saying "uh-ert" very fast.

2. Putting it Together:

The whole word sounds like this: "hɜrt" (pronounced approximately like "hurt")

3. Tips for Pronunciation:

To help me tailor the advice further, could you tell me:

  • Are you a beginner learner of English?
  • Is there anything specific about the pronunciation you're struggling with (e.g., the "h," the "ur" sound, or the rhythm of the word)?

Usage and examples with the word hurt in English

Let's break down how to use the word "hurt" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with different meanings and nuances. Here's a categorized breakdown:

1. Physical Pain:

  • Most Common Meaning: This is the most frequent use. It means to experience pain in the body.
    • Example: "I hurt my ankle playing basketball."
    • Example: "She hurt her shoulder lifting the box."
    • Example: "He hurt himself falling off his bike."
  • Phrases:
    • "Hurt my feelings": This is a common idiom meaning to be offended or disappointed by something someone said or did. (More about emotional hurt below).
    • "Hurt badly/severely/terribly": Describes the intensity of the physical pain.
    • "Hurt on purpose": Means someone intentionally caused physical harm.

2. Emotional Pain/Distress:

  • Meaning: To feel sadness, disappointment, grief, or worry. It's about the pain of the heart or mind.
    • Example: "I was hurt by her words."
    • Example: "His rejection hurt me deeply."
    • Example: "The news hurt her to the core."
  • Phrases:
    • "Hurt someone's feelings": To make someone sad or upset. ("I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.")
    • "Hurt and angry": A complex emotion; feeling both sadness and rage.
    • "It hurts to think about it": Expressing the difficulty of processing painful memories or situations.

3. Causing Pain (Verb - To Cause Pain):

  • Meaning: To make someone or something feel pain.
    • Example: "The rough landing hurt his face."
    • Example: "The criticism hurt her confidence."
    • Example: "The music hurt my ears." (Figurative - it was too loud or unpleasant)

4. Figurative/Idiomatic Uses:

  • "Hurt" as a synonym for "affected": (Less common, but can occur)
    • Example: “The drought hurt the local farmers.” (Meaning it negatively affected them.)
  • "Hurt deeply": To be profoundly affected. Stronger than just "hurt."

Important Notes & Variations:

  • "Hurting": This is the present participle (used with –ing) and is the continuous tense form (e.g., "I am hurting my knee").
  • "To hurt": This is the infinitive form and is often used with “to” (e.g., "to hurt someone").
  • "Hurt" vs. "Pain": "Pain" is often a more direct reference to the physical sensation. “Hurt” frequently describes the emotional or psychological impact.

Here's a table summarizing the uses:

Category Meaning Example
Physical Pain Feeling physical discomfort "I hurt my back lifting the box."
Emotional Pain Feeling sadness/disappointment "Her words hurt me."
Cause of Pain Making someone feel pain "The storm hurt the crops."
Figurative Affected/Impacted "The news hurt our morale."

To help me give you more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you thinking about? (e.g., writing a story, having a conversation, etc.)
  • Is there a specific sentence you're trying to write, and you're unsure how to use "hurt" in it?

Synonyms for the word hurt

Idioms of the word hurt

hit somebody where it hurts
to affect somebody where they will feel it most
    it won’t/wouldn’t hurt (somebody/something) (to do something)
    used to say that somebody should do a particular thing
    • It wouldn't hurt you to help with the housework occasionally.
    not harm/hurt a fly
    to be kind and gentle and unwilling to cause unhappiness

      Practice with vocabulary hurt

      Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

      1. After falling off his bike, he knew he had seriously ______ his knee.
      2. The company's reputation was greatly ______ by the recent scandal involving financial misconduct.
      3. The strong winds yesterday caused significant ______ to the old barn roof, necessitating costly repairs.
      4. The new policy is likely to adversely ______ the smaller, independent businesses in the long run.

      Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (There may be multiple correct answers per question)

      1. Which of the following words can describe causing physical pain or injury to a person or animal? A) ache B) mend C) hurt D) recover

      2. If someone's feelings are deeply affected by a harsh or critical comment, they might feel: A) pleased B) offended C) hurt D) indifferent

      3. Which actions could potentially cause financial harm or negatively impact a business's operations or standing? A) investing wisely in new markets B) mismanaging company funds C) implementing ineffective marketing strategies D) hurting the company's public image through unethical practices

      4. Which words best describe the process of something becoming less effective or losing its original quality or function over time? A) improve B) deteriorate C) maintain D) degrade

      5. When a machine stops functioning correctly due to a mechanical issue, it is said to be: A) repaired B) malfunctioning C) maintained D) broken

      Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

      1. Original: The athlete experienced a painful strain in his hamstring during the intensive training session. Rewrite using "hurt" or a related word form:

      2. Original: Her thoughtless comment about his presentation caused deep offense to her colleague. Rewrite using "hurt" or a related word form:

      3. Original: The constant negative feedback from the supervisor gradually eroded the team's morale and productivity. Rewrite without using "hurt" or its related forms:

      Answer:

      Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

      1. After falling off his bike, he knew he had seriously hurt his knee.
      2. The company's reputation was greatly hurt by the recent scandal involving financial misconduct.
      3. The strong winds yesterday caused significant damage to the old barn roof, necessitating costly repairs.
      4. The new policy is likely to adversely affect the smaller, independent businesses in the long run.

      Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

      1. A) ache, C) hurt
      2. B) offended, C) hurt
      3. B) mismanaging company funds, C) implementing ineffective marketing strategies, D) hurting the company's public image through unethical practices
      4. B) deteriorate, D) degrade
      5. B) malfunctioning, D) broken

      Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

      1. The athlete hurt his hamstring during the intensive training session.
      2. Her colleague was deeply hurt by her thoughtless comment about his presentation.
      3. The constant negative feedback from the supervisor gradually undermined the team's morale and productivity.

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