achy

Everyday

1. Achy means feeling a dull, steady pain, often in the muscles or joints. tree →
2. You feel achy when you are tired, ill with a cold or flu, or after a lot of exercise. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and health lessons it describes how the body feels: achy legs after a long walk, achy all over with the flu. It helps a child tell an adult how they feel, which is part of safety and health. It is informal.

Examples

• I feel hot and achy, so I think I have the flu. tree →
• My legs were achy after the cross-country run. tree →
• Grandma's knees get achy when it is cold. tree →
• After sleeping on the floor, my back felt achy. tree →
• Tell an adult if you feel achy and have a high temperature. tree →
• Her arms were achy from carrying the shopping. tree →

Note

Comes from «ache» (a dull pain). Spelled «achy», not «achey». Pronounced like «ake-ee». An ache is a long dull pain; a sharp, sudden pain is not usually called achy.