English speakers, could you help me?

Question

Is there any difference between

"She comforted me." and "She consoled me."?

Answer 1

They both mean about the same thing. We often have a choice of words in English. Both mean very nearly the same but slightly different.

Note: If this message has cleared your mind and reduced your stress, then I have -comforted- you, but not consoled you.

If I said "Don't worry, your English is coming along just great!" then I would be consoling you, and also comforting you.

Answer 2

Console would mostly be used in when conversation is involved.
Comfort is a more common term and might be used as in 'it was comforting to listen to music'
I suppose they can mean the same thing but you wont see console used as often and as I said its generally used in regard to conversation with someone.
And I guess it would maybe be considered more intellectual of a word than comfort.

Answer 3

Well there isn't much of a difference, considering they are synonyms. I guess one can comfort someone just by their prescence; however, consoling someone is actually reducing their stress...yet comforting someone just relaxes them.

Answer 4

Well if i were you i would rather use the word consolidate. I'm not grammar oriented but then that would make things more specific .... in other case i would rather use comforts rather than consolidate.

Answer 5

Mr. Knowitall put it beautifully. Very good explanations. He gets my vote.

Answer 6

No real difference.

Answer 7

not enough to matter

Answer 8

no same thing.

Answer 9

nope :]