What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
balls
Example
The kids were playing with a soccer ball in the park. [ball: noun]
Example
He had the balls to stand up to his boss and speak his mind. [balls: plural noun]
Example
The doctor examined his swollen balls for any signs of infection. [balls: slang for testicles]
nuts
Example
I love snacking on mixed nuts during movie nights. [nuts: noun]
Example
She's a bit nuts, always coming up with wild ideas. [nuts: adjective]
Example
He accidentally hit himself in the nuts while playing sports. [nuts: slang for testicles]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Nuts is more commonly used than balls in everyday language. Nuts is versatile and can be used to describe food items or someone's behavior, while balls is less common and often associated with sports-related contexts or slang.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between balls and nuts?
While balls is generally more informal and can be considered vulgar when referring to testicles, nuts can be used in both informal and slightly more formal contexts, making it a more versatile word.
