What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dum
Example
He made a dum mistake by forgetting his passport at home. [dum: adjective]
Example
She felt dum for believing the fake news. [dum: adjective]
fool
Example
Don't be a fool and invest all your money in one stock. [fool: noun]
Example
He fooled around instead of studying for the exam. [fooled: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fool is more commonly used than dum in everyday language. Fool is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while dum is less common and can be considered offensive in some situations.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between dum and fool?
While fool is more neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, dum is more informal and can be considered offensive in formal settings.
