ESEN
Which one to use?Beginnersustantivosustantivo / verbo
NoisevsSound
"Noise" is unwanted or formless sound; "sound" is any acoustic signal, pleasant or not.
Side-by-side comparison
Noise
sustantivoUnwanted, disturbing, or unstructured sound. Implies nuisance or disorder.
The construction noise outside made it impossible to work.
Could you keep the noise down? I am trying to sleep.
There was a strange noise coming from under the car.
Sound
sustantivo / verboAny vibration detectable by the ear. Neutral, can be music, voice, nature.
I love the sound of rain on the roof at night.
The sound of her voice calmed me down immediately.
That plan sounds risky to me. Are you sure?
Common mistake
- •"The noise of the waterfall was beautiful" contradicts itself: "noise" implies unwanted or irritating sound.
- •For neutral or pleasant sounds, use "sound."
Trick to remember it
Ask yourself: does it bother me? Yes = "noise." Neutral or pleasant? = "sound." Music you chose is "sound"; music your neighbour blasts at 2 a.m. is "noise."
Quick rule
- •"Noise" = unwanted or disturbing sound.
- •"Sound" = any sound, neutral in tone.
Did you know?
In science, NOISE has a precise and valuable technical meaning: it is random interference in a signal. The "signal-to-noise ratio" is a fundamental concept in physics, telecommunications, statistics, and even molecular biology. "White noise" is paradoxically a popular tool for improving sleep, its random mix of all audible frequencies "masks" the irregular sounds of the environment. Millions of people use white noise apps to sleep, turning NOISE into something useful and welcome.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
I heard a strange _____ in the middle of the night. Something fell over.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
I love the _____ of rain on the roof. It helps me sleep.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
BothervsDisturb
"Bother" is to annoy or trouble emotionally; "disturb" is to interrupt or unsettle.
HearvsHere
One is the verb meaning to perceive sound; the other indicates this location.
SayvsMean
"Say" is to produce words; "mean" is the intention or meaning behind them.
AbovevsOver
"Above" is at a higher level without contact; "over" implies covering, movement, or crossing.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy