How to know when to use "bare" or "bear"

What's the word for a large, furry animal that lives in the woods? If you thought of "bear," you're spot on. But did you know there's another word, "bare," that sounds exactly the same?

The two words are classic examples of homophones: words that sound alike but mean different things. Let's break down how to use them.

Bare

As an adjective, "bare" means uncovered, or with nothing on it or in it. It comes from the same root as the German bar, as in barfuß, which is why "barefoot" means exactly what you'd guess.

• The shelves were bare after the sale.
• The trees look so bare in winter.
• We only packed the bare minimum.
• I love walking around the house in bare feet.

As a verb, "bare" means to uncover something and let it be seen. You'll mostly hear it in a few fixed phrases.

• She decided to bare her soul in her autobiography.
• The cat hissed and bared its teeth.

The verb "bear"

Besides being an animal, "bear" is also a verb with a few different meanings. The first one is to carry or hold up weight. That can be physical weight or a responsibility.

• The old bridge can't bear the weight of heavy trucks.
• Check that the shelf can bear the weight before you load it with books.
• As the eldest, she had to bear a lot of responsibility at home.

It can also mean to put up with something difficult or unpleasant. In this sense, it almost always comes with "can't" or "couldn't."

• I can't bear the thought of leaving my hometown.
• I can't bear horror movies.
• He couldn't bear her complaining any longer.

You might also come across "bear" meaning to give birth, as in "She bore three children." This sounds formal or old-fashioned now, so in everyday English, people say "have a baby."

The mix-up you'll see most often is "bare with me." The correct phrase is "bear with me," and it means "please be patient for a moment." Since "bare" is about uncovering things, "bare with me" sounds like an invitation to undress together, so it's worth getting right in your next work email. The same goes for "bear in mind."

• Bear with me while I find the file.
• Bear in mind that the office is closed on Friday.

And if you're not familiar with our video series, check out Daily Dose of Denglisch Docs for more practical English lessons.