What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
narky
Example
He's been narky all day because he didn't get enough sleep. [narky: adjective]
Example
She gets narky when she's hungry. [narky: adjective]
testy
Example
He became testy when his colleague interrupted him during the meeting. [testy: adjective]
Example
She's been feeling testy lately due to the stress at work. [testy: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Testy is more commonly used than narky in everyday language, especially in American English. Testy is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while narky is less common and more informal.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between narky and testy?
While testy can be used in both formal and informal contexts, it is generally considered more formal than narky, which is a slang term and may not be appropriate in formal situations.