What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
shin
Example
He kicked the ball with his shin. [shin: noun]
Example
She accidentally hit her shin on the coffee table. [shin: noun]
shank
Example
The lamb shank was delicious. [shank: noun]
Example
He shanked the ball and it went out of bounds. [shanked: past tense verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Shin is more commonly used than shank in everyday language, especially when referring to the front part of the leg. Shank is more commonly used in culinary contexts to describe a cut of meat.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between shin and shank?
Both shin and shank are neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
