Mug vs cup: people use the words as if they mean the same thing, but they are not quite the same object. Here is the short version.
What is a mug?
A mug is a sturdy drinking vessel with straight or near-straight sides and a handle. It is used on its own, without a saucer, and it is the everyday choice for coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
What is a cup?
A cup is a broader word. In the narrow sense it means a teacup: thinner, often wider at the top, and usually served on a saucer. In everyday language, cup is also the general word for anything you drink from.
Cup vs mug: the main differences
- Shape: a mug has taller, straighter sides; a teacup is often wider at the top.
- Saucer: a mug is used without one; a teacup usually comes with one.
- Use: a mug is for everyday drinking; a teacup is more formal.
- Feel: a mug is made to be held in both hands on a slow morning.
Is a mug a cup?
Yes, in the broad sense: every mug is a kind of cup. Not every cup is a mug, though. If it has a saucer and a dainty handle, it is a teacup.
Why a mug is the better canvas
The straight sides of a mug make room for artwork and text. At Siplumi, the black mug carries a full-color print that wraps all the way around, ideal for our gothic mugs and skull mugs. Our two-tone mug, with a colored rim and inside, carries designs like our cute mugs. See every design in coffee mugs.