chore
B1Neutral to informal
Definition
Meaning
A routine, often tedious task, especially one done as part of running a household.
Any repetitive, boring, or unpleasant duty or activity, whether domestic, professional, or personal.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Inherently connotes a sense of obligation, dullness, or minor drudgery. Implies the task is necessary but not enjoyable.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. US usage slightly more common in corporate/business contexts for minor administrative tasks.
Connotations
Equally negative/dull in both variants. British usage may more strongly imply domestic/household context.
Frequency
Frequency is similar. The word is common in everyday speech in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
do a chorehave a chore to doassign choresshare the choreschore of + gerund (e.g., the chore of cleaning)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “chore list”
- “a chore and a half (a very difficult/boring task)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used for major projects; can describe minor administrative duties ("Filing those reports is a weekly chore.").
Academic
Seldom used, except perhaps in sociological studies of domestic labour.
Everyday
Primary domain. Used for household tasks, child responsibilities, boring personal admin.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He had to chore his way through a pile of paperwork.
American English
- She's been choring all morning—first laundry, then mowing.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form.
American English
- No standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- (Rare) It was a chore-filled Saturday.
American English
- (Rare) They divided up the chore list.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I help my parents with chores.
- Cleaning my room is my chore.
- Doing the ironing is my least favourite household chore.
- We share the chores equally.
- The daily chore of checking dozens of emails can be draining.
- He viewed data entry not as a key task, but as a menial chore.
- The bureaucratic chore of obtaining the permits delayed the project for weeks.
- She found the chore of maintaining the legacy codebase profoundly unrewarding.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CHOReographer making dancers do the same routine steps over and over – a repetitive task.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE/MAINTENANCE IS A SERIES OF CHORES (implying life involves burdensome, repetitive upkeep).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend: Not related to 'хор' (chorus).
- Beware of over-translating as 'работа' (work), which is too broad. Closer to 'рутинная работа', 'обязанность', 'домашние дела'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for large, complex projects (incorrect: 'Building the bridge was a massive chore.').
- Pronouncing it like 'core' (/kɔːr/) instead of /tʃɔːr/.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is the word 'chore' used INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its most common use is for household tasks, it can refer to any tedious, routine duty (e.g., 'a bureaucratic chore').
Rarely. Its core semantic field is negative, implying dullness and obligation. Using it positively is usually ironic.
No, it's neutral to informal. In very formal writing, 'task', 'duty', or 'responsibility' might be preferred.
A 'task' is neutral. A 'chore' is a specific type of task that is routine, often mundane, and perceived as unpleasant or boring.