Do you have coffee in a cup or a mug? Most probably in a mug, right? Most people use cups and mugs for drinking different beverages. But sometimes, people often get confused between cup and mug. Also, students often get puzzled as to why it’s called a coffee mug and a teacup and why not the opposite? To ensure that it doesn’t confuse anyone anymore, this article will talk about all the points of difference between a cup and a mug.
Unlike any other subject, there are many pairs of words present in the English Language that often confuse people. In most cases, since there’s a little or sometimes no difference between the terms, students, including adults, end up using them interchangeably. This interchangeable use of the terms might not always be correct for the context they’re using these in. So it’s essential that students know the meanings of the words before using them. Let’s have a look at the following points that this article will cover to disclose all the differences between these two.
- Table Summarising the Difference between Cup and Mug
- The Difference between Cup and Mug – Meanings
- Examples of Cup and Mug
- Cup and Mug – Conclusion
Table Summarising the Difference between Cup and Mug
| Cup | Mug | |
| Meaning | A small container that comes with a handle and a saucer to hold liquids such as tea, water, etc. | A larger container to hold liquids like hot chocolate or coffee and might not have a handle. |
| Usage | It can be used as a noun and verb. | It can be used as a noun and verb. |
| Example | Raj had a cup of cinnamon tea this morning. | Can I have a mug of hot chocolate? |
This table shows that ‘cup’ and ‘mug’ aren’t synonymous nor can be used interchangeably. Since students often get confused between these words, this table will help them understand the context they are using these in. Once they get the difference between these words, they can apply them correctly in sentences.
The Difference between Cup and Mug – Meanings
The first point of difference between the words ‘cup’ and ‘mug’ is their shape. If you look properly, then you’ll notice that the cup is smaller than the mug, and it always comes with a handle and a saucer. But mugs are generally bigger in size and the perfect container to hold coffee or hot chocolate. They might or might not have handles and definitely don’t come with saucers. In both these cases, the words are used as nouns, but the word ‘mug’ can be used as a verb too. As a verb, the word ‘mug’ means to rob someone by attacking them e.g., ‘The robber mugged the old man at the corner of the street.’ At the same time, the word ‘cup’ can also be used as a verb which means curving’s one’s palms like a cup to hold something, for example, ‘The wicket-keeper cupped the ball with his hands.’ Once students get this idea, it will be easy for them to understand the difference.
Examples of Cup and Mug
The following example will help students understand the terms ‘cup’ and ‘mug’.
Mug – i) Helen has beautifully designed her coffee mug. (noun)
ii) Ira was mugged on her way home from school. (verb)
Cup – i) I bought a set of six glass cups. (noun)
ii) The boy cupped his hands while drinking water from the tap. (verb)
Once students understand the difference between the words ‘mug’ and ‘cup’, they can easily apply them in proper contexts.
Cup and Mug – Conclusion
In conclusion, the words ‘cup’ and ‘mug’ might seem to be the same, but they cannot be used interchangeably and are not synonymous. When one is using these words, one has to understand the context before applying them. This article talks about the essential points that’ll help one to know how to use these two terms. BYJU’S offers various articles on many such ‘Differences Between Two Words’ that people often get confused with.
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