“Be Born” vs. “Give Birth”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “be born” and “give birth”

  • "Be born" is used to refer to the emergence of a new life, while "give birth" specifically refers to the moment of delivery.
  • "Be born" is passive, indicating that the birth happened to the organism, while "give birth" is active, indicating that the mother is actively delivering the baby.
  • "Be born" can be used for both babies and animals, while "give birth" is typically only used for female animals or humans who are delivering offspring.
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What is the definition of “be born” and “give birth”?

Be born
  • To come into existence through the process of childbirth.
  • It refers to the emergence of a new life or an organism from its mother's womb.
  • This term is typically used for babies or animals but can also be used figuratively.
Give birth
  • To deliver a baby or offspring from the body of a female animal or human.
  • It typically refers to the act of pushing the baby out through the birthing canal during labor.
  • Giving birth is considered a significant physiological event for mothers.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Give birth” is the more popular variant on the web.
Be born
34,900,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. He was born in the middle of a storm.
  2. My grandmother was born in a small village in Italy.
  3. The baby is due to be born next month.
More popular
Give birth
43,200,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. She gave birth to twins last night.
  2. The doctor helped her give birth to a healthy baby boy.
  3. The midwife guided the mother through the process of giving birth.
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