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- Dear Teachers,1. I feel so nauseous.2. I feel so throw up.- Are these natural to say and the same meaning?Thanks very much to Teachers, Stevenukd.

Hoa Thai · Accepted Answer

Stevenukd- Dear Teachers,

1. I feel so nauseous. Fine.

2. I feel so throw up. This is not correct. "I feel like throwing up" is better.

- Are these natural to say and the same meaning?

Thanks very much to Teachers,

Stevenukd.

Philip · Answer

Stevenukd
- Dear Teachers,

1. I feel so nauseous.

2. I feel so throw up.

- Are these natural to say and the same meaning?

Thanks very much to Teachers,

Stevenukd.

Within recent history, "nauseous" has meant "causing one to be sick" , reserving "nauseated" to mean "sick".

My American Heritage Dictionary lists "nauseous" as a case of 'usage problem', which means that many people confuse the two words or use them interchangeably

I feel nauseated = I am sick to my stomach. I am nauseous = I am making you sick to your stomach.

I prefer to make the distinction, while less prescriptive grammarians don't worry about it.

Anonymous · Answer

Philip
Stevenukd- Dear Teachers,

1. I feel so nauseous.

2. I feel so throw up.

- Are these natural to say and the same meaning?

Thanks very much to Teachers,

Stevenukd.
Within recent history, "nauseous" has meant "causing one to be sick" , reserving "nauseated" to mean "sick".
My American Heritage Dictionary lists "nauseous" as a case of 'usage problem', which means that many people confuse the two words or use them interchangeably

I feel nauseated = I am sick to my stomach. I am nauseous = I am making you sick to your stomach.

I prefer to make the distinction, while less prescriptive grammarians don't worry about it.

Hi Philip,

Interesting!

I checked America Heritage Dictionary Online (HDO) and found what you commented in its usage note. However, Cambridge Dictionary Online (CDO) and Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (LDCE) do not seem to agree with HDO.

"nau?se?ous
especially American English - feeling that you are going to vomit [= sick]:
I felt slightly nauseous." - LDCE

"nauseous
feeling as if you might vomit" - (CDO, http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=53089&dict=CALD)

Am I confused or is this another the case where BrE and AmE do not agree?

Thanks,
Hoa Thai

Hoa Thai · Answer

Philip
Stevenukd- Dear Teachers,

1. I feel so nauseous.

2. I feel so throw up.

- Are these natural to say and the same meaning?

Thanks very much to Teachers,

Stevenukd.
Within recent history, "nauseous" has meant "causing one to be sick" , reserving "nauseated" to mean "sick".
My American Heritage Dictionary lists "nauseous" as a case of 'usage problem', which means that many people confuse the two words or use them interchangeably

I feel nauseated = I am sick to my stomach. I am nauseous = I am making you sick to your stomach.

I prefer to make the distinction, while less prescriptive grammarians don't worry about it.

Interesting!

I checked America Heritage Dictionary Online (HDO) and found what you'd commented in its usage note. However, Cambridge Dictionary Online (CDO) and Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (LDCE) do not seem to agree with HDO.

"nau?se?ous
especially American English - feeling that you are going to vomit [= sick]: I felt slightly nauseous." - LDCE

"nauseous
feeling as if you might vomit" - (CDO, )

I could not find nauseated in CDO and LDCE. However both of them do list nauseating, which means "making you feel as if you are going to vomit."

Am I confused or is this another the case where BrE and AmE do not agree?

Thanks,
Hoa Thai

Khoff · Answer

Hi, Philip -- I've heard the distinction you point out, and of course it's good to make people aware of it. However, in my experience most people use the terms "incorrectly" -- that is, most people I know would say "I feel nauseous." For that matter, I suspect that if someone says "I feel nauseous" and you reply "Oh no, you must mean you're feeling nauseated -- unless you are causing someone else to be nauseated" (not that you would be so insensitive!) they are likely to thank you by throwing up on your shoes.

Philip · Answer

KhoffHi, Philip -- I've heard the distinction you point out, and of course it's good to make people aware of it. However, in my experience most people use the terms "incorrectly" -- that is, most people I know would say "I feel nauseous." For that matter, I suspect that if someone says "I feel nauseous" and you reply "Oh no, you must mean you're feeling nauseated -- unless you are causing someone else to be nauseated" (not that you would be so insensitive!) they are likely to thank you by throwing up on your shoes.

Of course, it's after they throw up on your shoes that you inform them of the possible differenciation.

Khoff · Answer

But at that point they are both nauseated and nauseating!

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