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discus  –  discuss:

[slightly different end sound]

(the letter ‘c’ in both these words is said with a ‘k’ sound; the letter ‘u’ in ‘discus’ rhymes with the letter ‘a’ in “about”, and the letter ‘u’ in ‘discuss’ rhymes with the letter ‘u’ in “but”)

a competitor throwing a discus

“Discus” (with a single ‘s’) is a noun which means ‘a heavy round plate of any metal, usually wooden, in the shape of a saucer, 7 inches/18 cm in diameter and 1Kg./2.2 lb. in weight, which is thrown as a sport (the track and field sport even is called a ‘discus throw’; a kind of small beautiful and colourful fish’,

a couple of discus fish

e.g.

Our club athlete won a silver medal in discus throw in State Sports Meet.

__________

“Discuss” (with a double ‘s’) is a verb which means ‘to talk to someone about something from several points of view, to clear out some misunderstanding or to make a deal – not any casual or pastime talk; (in civil law) to collect or recover a debt from a debtor’,

a group of people discussing

e.g.

Both companies discussed the matter of a joint venture in detail.

Common Errors:

1.

When she discusses with him, she cannot say the things that she wants to say because of her bad English. [wrong]

When she talks to him, she cannot say the things that she wants to say because of her bad English.   [right]

2.

Some of us were discussing; some were watching TV.   [wrong]

Some of us were talking; some were watching TV.        [right]

[‘Discussing something’ is a serious business.]

3.

I’d like to discuss about what to do next.  [wrong]

I’d like to discuss what to do next.             [right]

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