Key Difference: We all think that sick and ill are similar words in English and use them interchangeably. But the truth is we have to use those words in a manner that is not the same. The term Sick refers to a short-term disease and people can recover in a short period of time. Whereas, Ill refers to a long-term disease it takes a long period of time to recover. In this post, we will show you when, where, and how to use the words Sick and Ill with proper explanations and examples.
Sick: She is sick, don’t disturb her.
Ill: Tom, are you feeling ill?
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Sick:
Physically or mentally affected.
Sickness is nothing but a physical or mental illness. For example, we can say some short-term diseases like flu, cold, cough, and fever. Let’s see an example to make it clear how to use this term. She is sick with the flu. From this statement, we might understand that someone is sick because she had the flu. Here we come up with another example for your reference. Reena said I am too sick to go to work. From this statement, we might understand that Reena didn’t go to work because she is sick.
How Do We Spell the Word Sick?
The phonetics pronunciation of the word Sick is sɪk. And this word sounds like the following audio.
Enunciation:
Syllables are phonological building blocks of words. It divides the words into parts that can help you read words more accurately. Let’s see how to split the word “Sick” using syllables. Learning syllables can also help you to spell words correctly.
- The word “Sick” has only one syllable.
- It cannot be divided.
Using “Sick” in sentences:
- I am too sick to go to work.
- My grandpa became sick last month.
- Drinking too much will make you sick.
- I am sick and tired of your complaints.
- Since I was sick, I did not go to school.
Ill:
Feeling unwell.
The term “Ill” is used to refer to people who are suffering from a disease for a long period of time. Let’s see an example to make it clear for you. His grandmother is seriously ill. From this statement, we might understand that someone’s grandmother is feeling not well. Here we come up with another example for your reference. She became ill because the food is not good. From this statement, we might understand that someone is to become ill because of eating unhealthy food.
How Do We Spell the Word Ill?
The phonetics pronunciation of the word Ill is ɪl. And this word sounds like the following audio.
Enunciation:
Syllabification refers to the process of division of words into smaller parts. It is commonly known as syllables. With its help, you can easily read and spell the word accurately. Here, you will see how to split the word “Ill” by syllables.
- The word “Ill” has only one syllable.
- It cannot be divided.
Using “Ill” in sentences:
- My professor appeared ill.
- Her grandmother is seriously ill.
- She became ill from food poisoning.
- My wife is ill.
- I felt ill so I went home.
Compare: Sick Vs Ill
This table will show you the contradiction between the words Sick and Ill.
| Sick | Ill | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Physically or mentally affected. | Feeling unwell due to disease. |
| Synonyms | Bad, unwell, seasick | Poorly, liverish, defective |
| Antonyms | Well, healthy | Good, competent |
| Etymology | Old English sēoc ‘affected by illness’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch ziek and German siech . | Middle English (in the senses ‘wicked’, ‘malevolent’, ‘harmful’, and ‘difficult’): from Old Norse illr ‘evil, difficult’, of unknown origin. |
| Examples | I feel sick when I get up in the morning. Mother has been sick since last Thursday. Tom told Lilly that John was sick in bed. If he isn’t sick, I think he will come. | Ria is critically ill in the hospital. The smoke makes me ill. Every ill has its remedy. Nancy’s sister became ill after she visits her friend in the hospital. |
Resources and References:
Resources: Cambridge Dictionary (Sick, Ill), Merriam-Webster (Sick, Ill), Collins Dictionary (Sick, Ill), Dictionary.com (Sick, Ill)
Reference: Dictionary.Cambridge.org[1], Merriam-Webster.com[2], CollinsDictionary.com[3], Dictionary.com[4].