noun
bellyache
BEH-lee-ayk
Bellyache (noun) means a pain in the stomach. Example: “Too much candy gave her a bellyache.”
noun
1
A pain in the stomach.
"Too much candy gave her a bellyache."
"Eating too much candy can give you a bellyache."
verb
1
To complain persistently about minor things.
"He’s always bellyaching about the traffic on his commute."
How to use bellyache
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a stomach pain, or informally, to whine and complain a lot.
When to use it
The verb sense is informal — fine in casual speech, not in a formal report.
Common pairings
stop bellyaching
a bad bellyache
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like bellyache.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- bellyaches
- Third person singular
- bellyaches
- Past tense
- bellyached
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Too much candy gave her a _____.
Etymology
A straightforward compound of "belly" and "ache."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for bellyache
See all rhymes for bellyache →Frequently asked questions
What does “bellyache” mean?
The word “bellyache” means a pain in the stomach. In plain terms, either a stomach pain, or informally, to whine and complain a lot.
How do you pronounce “bellyache”?
“Bellyache” is pronounced BEH-lee-ayk (/ˈbɛliˌeɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “bellyache” in a sentence?
Here is “bellyache” used in a sentence: “Too much candy gave her a bellyache.”
What part of speech is “bellyache”?
Depending on how it is used, “bellyache” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “bellyache” have?
“Bellyache” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a pain in the stomach.
