Learn That’s Mean vs. That Means: The Complete Guide to the Difference and understand their grammar, meaning, usage, and context in English today. These tricky phrases can look identical, which makes even advanced learners confuse them and choose the wrong phrase accidentally. Although That’s mean and That means may sound similar, they have a clear difference in meaning and purpose. That’s mean usually gives an emotional judgment about something rude, while That means helps you explain or clarify an idea.
The confusion becomes easier to handle when you look at how each phrase works in real communication. That’s mean expresses emotion, often when you react emotionally to rude behavior or an unpleasant action in everyday speech. In contrast, That means acts as a verb phrase and logical tool for giving an explanation or clarification. The distinction depends on intent, tone, and interpretation, so paying attention to context-awareness can prevent a common error, misunderstanding, or awkward mistake. From my experience, learners make faster progress when they connect the forms with real situations instead of trying to mix up or memorize similar phrases.
A strong understanding of these language rules also improves recognition, correctness, and accuracy. Looking at sentence structure, spoken English, and written English shows how the two forms behave differently, while semantics, linguistics, and NLP provide a deeper view of how meaning changes with context. With structured learning, regular practice, and careful phrase comparison, learners can build fluency, improve expression, and develop greater communication clarity in both social interaction and professional communication. This kind of mastery also strengthens language skill improvement and helps learners understand the deeper structures behind everyday language.
That’s Mean vs. That Means: The Quick Answer
Use “that’s mean” when you’re judging an action, comment, or behavior as unkind, hurtful, harsh, or inconsiderate.
“You laughed when he made a mistake. That’s mean.”
Use “that means” when you’re explaining the meaning, result, implication, or consequence of something.
“The store closes at six. That means we need to leave now.”
Here’s the distinction at a glance:
| Phrase | Full form | Grammar | Main meaning | Example |
| That’s mean | That is mean | Linking verb + adjective | Something is unkind | “That’s mean of you.” |
| That means | That means | Subject + verb | Something has a particular meaning or result | “That means we’re late.” |
A useful shortcut is this:
Unkind judgment → “That’s mean.”
Explanation or consequence → “That means.”
Cambridge Dictionary lists mean as both a verb and an adjective. As a verb, it can express or represent an idea or indicate a result. As an adjective, it can describe someone or something as unkind or not generous.
What Does “That’s Mean” Mean?
“That’s mean” is the contraction of “that is mean.”
Here, mean is an adjective. It describes the thing, action, remark, or situation represented by that.
For example:
“You invited everyone except Sarah. That’s mean.”
The speaker isn’t explaining what the invitation means. Instead, the speaker is judging the action.
The underlying structure is:
That + is + mean
- That = subject
- is = linking verb
- mean = adjective
Because mean describes a quality, you can replace it with another adjective:
- That’s rude.
- That’s unkind.
- That’s harsh.
- That’s unfair.
- That’s insensitive.
The same grammatical pattern remains intact.
What Does “Mean” Mean Here?
In “that’s mean,” the word mean doesn’t refer to mathematical averages or the act of expressing an idea.
It means something closer to:
- unkind
- hurtful
- inconsiderate
- cruel
- not nice
- unfair in behavior
For example:
“Making fun of someone for getting an answer wrong is mean.”
The phrase evaluates behavior.
That’s an important clue.
Examples of “That’s Mean”
Consider these everyday examples:
- “You promised to help her and then ignored her. That’s mean.”
- “He made fun of his friend in front of everyone. That’s mean.”
- “You ate the last piece without asking. That’s mean.”
- “That was a pretty harsh thing to say. That’s mean.”
- “It’s mean to exclude someone deliberately.”
In every case, mean describes behavior.
What Does “That Means” Mean?
Now the sentence changes gears.
“That means” uses means as the present-tense form of the verb mean.
The basic structure is:
That + means
Here, means can express the idea that something signifies, indicates, implies, or results in something else.
For example:
“The lights are off. That means nobody is using the room.”
The speaker isn’t judging the lights as unkind. They’re interpreting information.
Cambridge gives several relevant uses of mean, including expressing or representing an idea and having a particular result. It also gives examples where one fact leads to a conclusion or consequence.
Examples of “That Means”
- “The meeting starts at nine. That means we need to arrive early.”
- “She hasn’t answered. That means she may be busy.”
- “The sign says ‘closed.’ That means we can’t go inside.”
- “You finished the assignment. That means you’re ready for the next step.”
- “The price increased. That means we’ll need a larger budget.”
Notice the pattern.
One fact appears first. Then “that means” introduces its interpretation or consequence.
The Core Grammar Difference: Adjective vs. Verb
This is the part that makes the whole topic click.
“That’s mean” contains an adjective.
“That means” contains a verb.
They’re not interchangeable versions of the same expression.
“That’s Mean”
That is mean.
The word mean describes something.
You could replace it with:
“That is rude.”
Or:
“That is unfair.”
“That Means”
That means we should leave.
Here, means connects the first idea with another idea.
You could often replace it with:
“That indicates we should leave.”
Or:
“That implies we should leave.”
Or, depending on context:
“That tells us we should leave.”
Here’s the grammar side by side:
| Feature | That’s mean | That means |
| Full structure | That is mean | That means |
| “Mean” is… | An adjective | A verb |
| Main function | Describes | Explains or indicates |
| Typical purpose | Judges behavior | Interprets information |
| Common context | Emotional or social reaction | Explanation or conclusion |
| Quick replacement | “That is unkind” | “That indicates” |
That’s the real dividing line.
That’s Mean vs. That Means: Meaning in Context
Sometimes the easiest way to understand the distinction is to put both phrases beside the same situation.
Imagine someone laughs when another student gives a wrong answer.
You might say:
“He laughed at her answer. That’s mean.”
You’re criticizing his behavior.
Now imagine you’re trying to interpret why he laughed:
“He laughed at her answer. That means he thought it was funny.”
Now you’re explaining what his laughter suggests.
The event stayed the same. The speaker’s purpose changed.
That’s why context matters so much.
A Useful Comparison
| Sentence | What the speaker is doing |
| “That’s mean.” | Judging behavior |
| “That means he was upset.” | Interpreting behavior |
| “That’s mean of you.” | Criticizing someone’s action |
| “That means you understood.” | Explaining a result |
| “That’s a mean thing to say.” | Describing a hurtful comment |
| “That means the plan changed.” | Explaining an implication |
Think of it this way:
“That’s mean” points a finger at the behavior.
“That means” points toward an explanation.
When to Use “That’s Mean”
Use “that’s mean” when you want to describe an action or comment as unkind.
To Call Out Unkind Behavior
“You shouldn’t laugh at someone for making a mistake. That’s mean.”
The phrase expresses disapproval.
To React to a Hurtful Comment
“She said that in front of everyone? That’s mean.”
The speaker reacts emotionally to what happened.
To Describe Someone’s Action
“It was mean of him to leave without saying goodbye.”
This construction is also common:
“That’s mean of you.”
The phrase “mean of someone” describes the person’s behavior rather than defining the person’s entire character.
That’s an important distinction.
Saying:
“That’s mean.”
usually evaluates one action or situation.
Saying:
“You’re mean.”
can sound broader because it directly describes the person.
When to Use “That Means”
Use “that means” when you explain what information signifies or what consequence follows from it.
To Explain a Result
“The bus is already here. That means we need to get moving.”
The phrase introduces a conclusion.
To Show a Consequence
“The deadline has passed. That means we can’t submit the form today.”
Here, “that means” connects an event with its consequence.
To Explain Significance
“The warning light is flashing. That means the system needs attention.”
The second clause explains what the first fact indicates.
To Interpret Information
“The word is written in the past tense. That means the action already happened.”
Again, the phrase introduces an explanation.
Cambridge specifically recognizes mean as a verb that can express a particular result, such as one condition leading to another.
“That’s Mean” vs. “That Means” in Real-Life Situations
The distinction becomes much easier when you see it working in different settings.
In Everyday Conversation
“You took the last cookie without asking. That’s mean.”
The speaker judges the action.
Now compare:
“There are no cookies left. That means we need to buy more.”
The speaker explains a consequence.
At School
“He laughed when she answered incorrectly. That’s mean.”
But:
“The teacher canceled the test. That means we have more time to study.”
One expresses judgment. The other explains a result.
At Work
“The deadline moved to Friday. That means we have two extra days.”
This construction works naturally in professional communication because it simply explains an implication.
You might also hear:
“Ignoring her question during the meeting was mean.”
The wording evaluates interpersonal behavior.
Common Mistakes With “That’s Mean” and “That Means”
These expressions create a few predictable errors.
“Thats Mean”
❌ Thats mean.
✅ That’s mean.
When that’s means “that is,” it needs an apostrophe.
The apostrophe marks the contraction.
“That’s Means”
❌ That’s means we need to leave.
✅ That means we need to leave.
Why?
Because “that’s” already contains “is.” Adding “means” creates the wrong structure.
You need either:
That is mean.
or:
That means…
You don’t combine them as “that’s means.”
“That Mean”
❌ “That mean we have to wait.”
✅ “That means we have to wait.”
In this structure, that is singular, so the present-tense verb takes -s:
That means…
This follows standard subject-verb agreement.
Using “That’s Mean” for a Consequence
❌ “The train is delayed. That’s mean we’ll arrive late.”
✅ “The train is delayed. That means we’ll arrive late.”
The second sentence explains a consequence. It doesn’t describe the train delay as unkind.
Using “That Means” to Judge Behavior
❌ “You laughed at her mistake. That means.”
If the intended meaning is “That was unkind,” the natural phrase is:
“You laughed at her mistake. That’s mean.”
The intended meaning determines the phrase.
The “That Is” Test
Here’s one of the fastest ways to choose correctly.
When you’re unsure, expand “that’s.”
Example
“That’s mean.”
Expand it:
“That is mean.”
It works.
Now try:
“That’s mean we have to leave.”
Expand it:
“That is mean we have to leave.”
That doesn’t work.
The correct version is:
“That means we have to leave.”
This test works because “that’s” is a contraction of “that is.”
Try These
“That’s rude.”
→ “That is rude.” ✓
“That’s unfair.”
→ “That is unfair.” ✓
“That’s mean.”
→ “That is mean.” ✓
But:
“That’s we need to go.”
→ “That is we need to go.” ✗
So you need:
“That means we need to go.”
The “Signifies” Test
There’s another useful trick.
If you can replace the phrase with “that indicates,” “that signifies,” or “that implies,” you probably need “that means.”
For example:
“The store is closed. That means we need to come back tomorrow.”
Try:
“The store is closed. That indicates we need to come back tomorrow.”
The meaning remains understandable.
Now consider:
“You laughed at him. That’s mean.”
Try:
“You laughed at him. That indicates.”
The sentence falls apart.
That’s because you’re not explaining what something signifies. You’re judging the behavior.
A Simple Decision Tree
When you’re stuck between the two phrases, ask these questions:
Are you describing something as unkind?
|
YES
↓
Use “That’s mean.”
NO
↓
Are you explaining meaning, significance,
a result, or a consequence?
|
YES
↓
Use “That means.”
There’s no need to memorize a complicated grammar formula.
Just identify what you’re trying to do with the sentence.
“That’s Mean” vs. “That Means” in One Conversation
Both expressions can appear naturally in the same conversation.
Consider this example:
Alex: “Jordan laughed when Mia gave the wrong answer.”
Sam: “That’s mean.”
Alex: “He probably thought it was funny.”
Sam: “That means he didn’t realize it hurt her feelings.”
The first phrase expresses disapproval.
The second phrase offers an interpretation.
This is an excellent way to remember the distinction because both phrases can describe the same event from different angles.
Related Expressions: “This Means” and “It Means”
The same grammatical idea appears with other subjects.
“This Means”
“This means we need to leave.”
Here, this is the subject and means is the verb.
“It Means”
“It means the store is closed.”
Here, it is the subject and means is the verb.
“What That Means Is…”
This longer structure is also common:
“What that means is that we need more time.”
It introduces an explanation of the significance of something already mentioned.
These expressions all belong to the same basic family of meaning and interpretation.
“That’s Mean of You” vs. “You’re Mean”
These phrases are related, but they don’t always communicate exactly the same thing.
“That’s Mean of You”
This usually focuses on a specific action.
“You hid her notebook as a joke? That’s mean of you.”
The criticism targets what the person just did.
“You’re Mean”
This can sound more like a description of the person’s general behavior or personality.
“Why are you always mean to your little brother?”
However, context can soften or strengthen either expression.
In casual conversation, people sometimes use “You’re mean!” playfully. Tone, facial expression, and the surrounding conversation can change the force of the words.
Case Study: One Situation, Two Meanings
Consider a student who forgets to bring a project to class.
Another student laughs.
There are two possible observations:
“That’s mean.”
This evaluates the laughter as unkind behavior.
Now suppose the teacher says:
“He forgot his project. That means he can’t present it today.”
This explains a consequence.
The distinction is subtle but powerful:
Judgment → “That’s mean.”
Interpretation → “That means.”
This pattern appears far beyond this particular example. Once you recognize it, you’ll start spotting it everywhere.
Correct and Incorrect Examples
| Confusing form | Correct form | Why |
| “That’s means we should leave.” | “That means we should leave.” | “Means” is the main verb |
| “That mean we’re late.” | “That means we’re late.” | Singular “that” takes “means” |
| “Thats mean.” | “That’s mean.” | The contraction needs an apostrophe |
| “The store is closed. That’s mean we can’t enter.” | “The store is closed. That means we can’t enter.” | The phrase explains a consequence |
| “You laughed at him. That means.” | “You laughed at him. That’s mean.” | The intended meaning is judgment |
| “That’s mean of you.” | Correct | “Mean” is an adjective |
| “That means we’re ready.” | Correct | “Means” is a verb |
A Few Tricky Examples
Some sentences become clearer when you look beyond the first few words.
Example: “That’s Mean”
“She told everyone about his mistake. That’s mean.”
The speaker judges the action.
Example: “That Means”
“She told everyone about his mistake. That means the whole class knows now.”
The speaker explains the result.
Example: Both in Sequence
“Making fun of him was mean. That means he may not feel comfortable speaking again.”
The first sentence evaluates behavior.
The second interprets a possible consequence.
Quick Quiz: That’s Mean or That Means?
Choose the correct phrase for each sentence.
- “You made fun of her accent. ______.”
- “The restaurant is closed. ______ we need to find somewhere else.”
- “He ignored your message on purpose? ______.”
- “The road is blocked. ______ we need another route.”
- “She embarrassed him in front of everyone. ______.”
- “The test was postponed. ______ we have more time.”
- “You took his seat after he saved it. ______.”
- “The lights are off. ______ nobody is inside.”
Answer Key
| Sentence | Answer |
| You made fun of her accent. | That’s mean. |
| The restaurant is closed. | That means we need to find somewhere else. |
| He ignored your message on purpose? | That’s mean. |
| The road is blocked. | That means we need another route. |
| She embarrassed him in front of everyone. | That’s mean. |
| The test was postponed. | That means we have more time. |
| You took his seat after he saved it. | That’s mean. |
| The lights are off. | That means nobody is inside. |
The pattern should now be fairly obvious.
Why These Phrases Get Confused
The confusion isn’t surprising.
Both expressions:
- begin with that
- contain mean
- contain an s sound
- commonly appear in everyday conversation
- can occur after another statement
Fast speech makes the distinction even harder to hear.
Compare:
That’s mean.
with:
That means…
The written forms reveal the grammar more clearly than casual pronunciation sometimes does.
That’s why learners should focus on sentence structure and meaning, not sound alone.
Does “That Means” Work in Formal Writing?
Yes.
“That means” is perfectly normal in professional, academic, and explanatory writing when the tone fits the surrounding text.
For example:
“The sample exceeded the specified limit. That means the procedure must be repeated.”
In a more formal style, a writer could also choose:
“This indicates that the procedure must be repeated.”
The choice depends on tone, not grammatical correctness.
“That means” isn’t inherently informal.
Can “That’s Mean” Be Used in Formal Writing?
Grammatically, yes. However, the phrase expresses a personal judgment and often sounds conversational.
For example:
“That’s mean of him.”
works naturally in everyday speech.
In formal writing, a more precise alternative might be:
- “That behavior is inappropriate.”
- “The remark was insensitive.”
- “The action was unnecessarily harsh.”
- “The comment was unkind.”
The point isn’t that “that’s mean” is wrong. It’s that register matters.
Alternatives to “That’s Mean”
Depending on the exact situation, you might choose:
| Expression | Typical tone |
| That’s mean. | Casual |
| That’s rude. | Direct |
| That’s unkind. | Gentle |
| That’s harsh. | Stronger |
| That’s unfair. | Focuses on justice |
| That’s insensitive. | Focuses on feelings |
| That was inappropriate. | More formal |
Choose the word that matches the behavior.
Calling something “unfair” isn’t always the same as calling it “mean.” A decision can be unfair without being intentionally hurtful. Precision matters.
A Note About the Word “Mean”
The word mean has several unrelated or partly related uses in English.
For example:
- mean = signify or represent
- “What does this word mean?”
- mean = result in
- “Higher costs mean higher prices.”
- mean = unkind
- “That was mean.”
- mean = not generous
- “He’s mean with money.”
- mean = mathematical average
- “The mean of the numbers is 12.”
Cambridge Dictionary records these distinct uses, including mean as both a verb and an adjective.
So the confusion between “that’s mean” and “that means” isn’t really about one word having only one meaning. English gives mean several jobs, and grammar tells you which job it’s doing.
The Easiest Memory Trick
Use this two-word rule:
Mean = unkind
If you’re saying something is unkind, use:
That’s mean.
Means = explains
If you’re explaining what something indicates or causes, use:
That means.
Another shortcut:
“That is” → That’s
“That indicates” → That means
That’s enough to solve most situations.
Read More: Gluing vs Glueing: The Correct Spelling Explained Once and for All
That’s Mean vs. That Means: Quick Reference
| If you want to… | Use |
| Say something is unkind | That’s mean |
| Criticize a hurtful action | That’s mean |
| React to an insensitive remark | That’s mean |
| Explain significance | That means |
| Explain a result | That means |
| Show a consequence | That means |
| Interpret information | That means |
| Explain what something indicates | That means |
Conclusion:
Understanding “that’s mean” vs. “that means” is easier once you look at how each phrase works in a sentence. That means is the standard expression when you want to explain what something signifies, indicates, or results in. That’s mean, on the other hand, is usually incorrect when used with this intended meaning because that’s means “that is” or “that has.” However, “that’s mean” can be grammatically possible in a different context, such as when mean functions as an adjective describing someone’s behavior.
The key is to consider both grammar and meaning. Use that means when you’re explaining a consequence, definition, or implication. Use that’s mean only when the sentence structure supports that is mean, such as “That’s mean of you.” Once you recognize this distinction, you can choose the right expression confidently and avoid a common English usage mistake.
FAQs:
Is “that’s mean” grammatically correct?
It can be correct when mean is an adjective. For example, “That’s mean of you” means that someone’s behavior is unkind. It isn’t normally correct when you intend to say “that signifies” or “that indicates.”
Is “that means” correct?
Yes. That means is correct when you use it to explain what something signifies, indicates, or implies. For example, “The store is closed. That means we have to come back tomorrow.”
What is the difference between “that’s mean” and “that means”?
That’s is a contraction of “that is” or “that has,” while that means uses means as a verb. Therefore, “that means” expresses an implication or meaning, whereas “that’s mean” usually describes something as unkind.
Can I say “that’s mean” to mean “that means”?
No. In standard English, that’s mean and that means aren’t interchangeable. If you want to explain what something indicates or signifies, use that means.
How do I remember whether to use “that’s mean” or “that means”?
Try expanding that’s to “that is.” If the sentence makes sense with “that is mean,” you may need that’s mean. If you’re explaining what something indicates or implies, use that means.
