What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
tussis
Example
The doctor diagnosed the patient with tussis. [tussis: noun]
Example
The tussis kept the patient up all night. [tussis: noun]
cough
Example
She couldn't stop coughing after catching a cold. [coughing: gerund or present participle]
Example
He took some cough medicine to relieve his symptoms. [cough: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Cough is more commonly used than tussis in everyday language. Cough is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while tussis is less common and mainly used in medical settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between tussis and cough?
Tussis may sound more formal or technical than cough, which is a more casual and familiar term. However, both words can be used in various formality levels depending on the context and audience.
