Ache and pain

[pressman]

Hello! Be so kind to explain! When I go to the doctor Which word must I say: Ache or Pain? I don't know it!
thanks in advance
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pressman

[Alan]

Hi,

Ache is precise ie toothache headache but pain is more general.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Relative Pronoun

[seeemilywrite]

For me an ache is a milder form of pain. An ache you could just deal with, a pain is something that is going to require attention.

[Yankee]

Hmmmm....

I've got a challenge for the native speakers here.
Which sentence would a doctor find more extreme?

1. Doctor, I've got a severe backache.
2. Doctor, I've got severe back pain.

Or would the two be the same here?

Amy
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Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Jamie (K)]

[Alan]

I think I'll stick to my original explanation of two years ago:

Ache is exact and pain is general. After all an ache in the neck is different from a pain in the neck, if you get my drift.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Communicating with you?

[Yankee]

Thanks, guys.

Yes, I also think "ache" is more specific/localized. As to the severity of an ache, maybe I'm just overly sensitive as a result of my last toothache.

Amy
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Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[spencer]

As a result?
Don't I have to use the "in result " form?
(I like as a result better)
Spencer

[Jamie (K)]

[Jamie (K)]

[Yankee]

Hi !

Thanks for the various ache + pain input. Although I'd agree that an 'ache' would generally be used for "less severe pain" and is also more "specific", I just can't help but think that that's just a bit too general.
My last toothache was anything but dull. (It was, however, continuous and localized.)
But I guess I'm just being a pain.

Hi Spencer

'As a result of' is a standard phrase in my neck of the woods.

Amy
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Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[spencer]

My neck of the woods?
Now you got me!
I have no clue what that phrase could mean at all!
In my NECK of the WOODS?
Jeeez!

[Yankee]

Hi Spencer

Oops! Sorry about that.

"Neck of the woods" is an informal idiom for "area/region/neighborhood/vicinity". It's well-known in the US, but I'm not sure about Britain....

Amy
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Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[spencer]

Thanks, so it's your area.
But why?
I mean, why is that?
Does anyone know it?

[Pamela]

Pain is sharp pain and could be sudden while ache is prolonged.