Loath vs Loathe

I learned something new today – I have been using the word “loathe” incorrectly!

I have used the word “loathe” as an adjective: “I am loathe to try bungee jumping“, which is incorrect! The word should only be used as a verb  as in “I loathe bungee jumping“.

It turns out that there are actually two different words: loathe, a verb which means “to hate intensely“; and loath, an adjective which means “unwilling“.

So my original example should have been written “I am loath to try bungee jumping“.

The pronunciation is also different: loathe as in smooth or breathe; loath as in growth or both.

So there you go.

And I really am.