That’s Mean vs. That Means: Master the Difference Once and for All shows how these phrases differ in grammar, meaning, and usage, despite looking almost identical. That’s mean is a contraction of that is mean and expresses an emotional judgment about rudeness or unkind behavior. That means is a verb phrase used to explain, clarify, or describe something logically, such as a result.
These commonly confused phrases can confuse English learners, advanced learners, and everyday writers in communication. People often mix up their uses in texting, social media posts, and casual conversation, which may make a message sound rude, unclear, or awkward. Use That’s mean for emotion and That means for an explanation.
A simple, practical guide is to pause before you speak or write and consider what you’re trying to say. If you’re making an emotional judgment, That’s mean fits; if you’re explaining a result or action, That means fits. This quick rule makes the difference easier to remember and helps you communicate clearly without misunderstandings.
That’s Mean vs. That Means: The Quick Difference
The simplest distinction is this:
| Expression | Meaning | Grammatical function | Example |
| That’s mean | That is unkind or hurtful | Mean is an adjective | “That’s mean. You shouldn’t say that.” |
| That means | That indicates or implies something | Means is a verb | “The light is red. That means we have to stop.” |
Here’s an even easier test.
Use “That’s mean” when you mean “That is unkind”
“You made fun of his accent. That’s mean.”
You’re expressing an opinion about someone’s behavior.
Use “That means” when you mean “That indicates”
“The deadline is tomorrow. That means we need to finish today.”
You’re explaining a consequence, meaning, or conclusion.
So when you’re deciding between that’s mean vs. that means, ask yourself one question:
Am I describing something as unkind, or am I explaining what something indicates?
That question usually gives you the answer immediately.
What Does “That’s Mean” Mean?
“That’s mean” is a contraction of “that is mean.”
Here, that contains the verb is. The word mean functions as an adjective.
The adjective describes an action, comment, decision, joke, or behavior as unpleasant or unkind.
For example:
“You knew she was nervous, and you laughed at her. That’s mean.”
The speaker isn’t saying that the action indicates something. The speaker is judging the action.
In this context, mean can carry several related ideas:
- unkind
- hurtful
- nasty
- cruel
- insensitive
- unfair
- spiteful
The exact shade of meaning depends on the situation.
Examples of “That’s Mean”
Consider these examples:
- “You told everyone her secret. That’s mean.”
- “That was a mean thing to say.”
- “You ignored him after he apologized. That’s mean.”
- “Making fun of someone for their appearance is mean.”
- “That’s really mean. He was only trying to help.”
In each sentence, mean describes behavior rather than explaining a result.
The Grammar Behind “That’s Mean”
Take the sentence apart:
That’s mean.
Expand the contraction:
That is mean.
Now the structure becomes clearer:
That + is + mean
- That = subject
- is = linking verb
- mean = adjective
The word mean tells you what “that” is like.
That’s why you can say:
“That’s mean.”
You can also say:
“That is unkind.”
Both sentences perform essentially the same grammatical job.
What Does “That Means” Mean?
Now consider the other expression:
“That means we need to leave.”
Here, means is a verb.
The verb mean can indicate significance, implication, intention, or consequence. In “that means,” it usually introduces an explanation of what a fact or situation tells us.
For example:
“The restaurant is full. That means we’ll have to wait.”
The first sentence gives you a fact. The second sentence explains the consequence.
Examples of “That Means”
- “The lights are off. That means nobody is home.”
- “She didn’t answer her phone. That means she may be busy.”
- “The flight was canceled. That means we’ll need another way to get there.”
- “He passed the exam. That means he can move to the next level.”
- “The sign says ‘Closed.’ That means we can’t go inside.”
In all these examples, means expresses an implication.
The Grammar Behind “That Means”
Look at this sentence:
“That means we have to leave.”
The structure is:
That + means + clause
- That = subject
- means = verb
- we have to leave = clause explaining the implication
The -s on means matters because that is treated as a third-person singular subject in this construction.
Compare:
“I mean what I said.”
“They mean what they say.”
“That means something different.”
The verb changes according to the subject.
“Mean” vs. “Means”: Why Does the Verb Change?
This is a basic subject-verb agreement rule.
In the present tense, mean becomes means when the subject is third-person singular.
| Subject | Correct form | Example |
| I | mean | “I mean what I said.” |
| You | mean | “You mean a lot to me.” |
| We | mean | “We mean well.” |
| They | mean | “They mean no harm.” |
| He | means | “He means well.” |
| She | means | “She means what she says.” |
| It | means | “It means something.” |
| That | means | “That means we’re late.” |
This explains why “that means” is correct.
The subject is that, which takes the singular verb means.
However, don’t assume that every sentence containing mean needs means. The subject determines the form.
“They mean well.”
Not:
“They means well.”
Likewise:
“That means trouble.”
Not:
“That mean trouble.”
Why “That’s Means” Is Incorrect
One of the most common mistakes is combining the two expressions:
❌ “That’s means we should leave.”
This doesn’t work in standard English.
Why?
Because that’s already contains is:
that’s = that is
Adding means creates an incorrect structure:
that + is + means
The correct sentence is:
✅ “That means we should leave.”
You can also use a different structure:
✅ “That’s what it means.”
Notice how the grammar changes.
Compare These Sentences
Incorrect:
❌ “That’s means we’re late.”
Correct:
✅ “That means we’re late.”
Also correct:
✅ “That’s what it means.”
The important point is that “that’s” and “means” aren’t interchangeable pieces that can simply be combined.
“That’s Mean” vs. “That Means” in Real Conversations
The difference becomes especially obvious when you put both expressions into the same conversation.
Imagine two friends discussing a difficult situation.
Maya: “Tom told everyone about your private message.”
Sara: “That’s mean.”
Maya: “He also deleted the message afterward.”
Sara: “That means I can’t prove what he said.”
Maya: “Exactly.”
Both expressions are correct.
“That’s mean” evaluates Tom’s behavior.
“That means” explains the consequence of deleting the message.
This is the heart of the distinction.
Another Everyday Example
Imagine someone receives an unexpected bill.
“The company charged us twice. That’s mean.”
This could express the speaker’s judgment that the treatment was unfair.
But:
“The company charged us twice. That means we need to contact customer service.”
Now the speaker is drawing a practical conclusion.
Same situation. Different purpose.
“That’s Mean” Describes an Action or Behavior
When you say “that’s mean,” you’re usually reacting to something.
Perhaps someone said something hurtful.
Maybe someone deliberately embarrassed another person.
Perhaps someone refused to help when help was clearly needed.
The phrase lets you make a quick judgment.
For example:
“You knew he was struggling, yet you laughed at him. That’s mean.”
The speaker isn’t analyzing what the action signifies. The speaker is saying the action was unkind.
This distinction also explains why “that’s mean” often appears in emotional conversations.
It’s short. It’s direct. It carries judgment without requiring a long explanation.
“That Means” Explains a Consequence
By contrast, “that means” often connects a fact with its logical result.
Think of it as a bridge:
Fact → Interpretation → Conclusion
For example:
The restaurant closes at 8 p.m.
↓
That means…
↓
We need to arrive before 8.
The expression helps you move from information to understanding.
Common Patterns With “That Means”
You’ll often see these structures:
That means + noun
“That means trouble.”
That means + adjective or description
“That means we’re ready.”
That means + clause
“That means we need to leave early.”
That means + consequence
“The road is blocked. That means we’ll need another route.”
This makes “that means” extremely useful in explanations.
The Different Meanings of “Mean”
Part of the confusion comes from the fact that mean has several meanings in English.
It isn’t limited to the idea of being unkind.
Mean = Unkind
“That was mean.”
Here, mean is an adjective.
Mean = Signify or Indicate
“What does this word mean?”
Here, mean is a verb.
Mean = Intend
“I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Here, mean expresses intention.
Mean = Have Importance
“Your support means a lot to me.”
Here, means expresses significance or importance.
The surrounding grammar tells you which meaning applies.
That’s why context matters more than the spelling alone.
“That’s Mean” Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Someone Is Mean
There’s an important difference between:
“That’s mean.”
and:
“You’re mean.”
The first usually criticizes a specific action or comment.
The second can describe a person’s general behavior or character.
Compare:
“You made fun of his mistake. That’s mean.”
The criticism targets one action.
Now compare:
“He’s always rude to people. He’s mean.”
This statement makes a broader judgment about the person.
That distinction can matter in real conversations. Saying “that’s mean” often sounds less like a permanent label.
“That Means” Often Signals a Logical Conclusion
When someone says “that means,” listen for the conclusion that follows.
For example:
“The train has already left. That means we’re going to miss the meeting.”
The second part isn’t simply repeating the first fact. It explains what the fact means for the situation.
This pattern appears everywhere:
- “She hasn’t replied. That means she may not have seen the message.”
- “The price went up. That means we’ll need a larger budget.”
- “The road is flooded. That means we can’t drive through.”
- “He passed the final test. That means he can graduate.”
- “The office is closed today. That means we’ll need to return tomorrow.”
In each case, means connects information with an implication.
“That’s Mean” vs. “That Means” in Questions
Questions reveal another useful grammar rule.
Consider:
“What does that mean?”
This is correct.
Not:
❌ “What does that means?”
Why?
Because does already carries the present-tense marking. The main verb returns to its base form:
does + mean
The same pattern appears in many English questions:
“What does she want?”
Not:
❌ “What does she wants?”
Likewise:
“What does that mean?”
Not:
❌ “What does that means?”
But “That’s Mean” Can Appear in a Question
For example:
“Why do you think that’s mean?”
Expand that’s:
“Why do you think that is mean?”
Here, mean is an adjective.
The structure is completely different from:
“What does that mean?”
These two sentences may look related. Grammatically, they aren’t doing the same thing.
“That Means” vs. “That’s What It Means”
These expressions are connected, but they have different structures.
That Means
“The sign says employees only. That means we can’t enter.”
This directly introduces the implication.
That’s What It Means
“So the sign means we can’t enter?”
“Exactly. That’s what it means.”
Here, “that’s what it means” confirms or restates an interpretation.
The expression can also emphasize a definition:
“Does ‘fragile’ mean you should handle it carefully?”
“Yes. That’s what it means.”
Both forms are useful. The surrounding sentence determines which one sounds natural.
Common Mistakes With “That’s Mean” and “That Means”
These errors are easy to make because the expressions look so similar.
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
| ❌ “That’s means we’re late.” | ✅ “That means we’re late.” | Means is the main verb. |
| ❌ “That mean we’re late.” | ✅ “That means we’re late.” | Singular that requires means. |
| ❌ “What does that means?” | ✅ “What does that mean?” | Does already marks the tense. |
| ❌ “That’s mean we should leave.” | ✅ “That means we should leave.” | The intended meaning is “that indicates.” |
| ❌ “That’s means a lot to me.” | ✅ “That means a lot to me.” | Means is the verb. |
| ❌ “That means!” when describing cruelty | ✅ “That’s mean!” | Mean is an adjective here. |
The pattern becomes much easier once you stop looking only at the spelling.
Instead, ask what the sentence is trying to accomplish.
A Simple Decision Rule for “That’s Mean” vs. “That Means”
When you’re unsure, use the substitution test.
Step One: Try “That is unkind”
If the sentence still makes sense, choose:
That’s mean
For example:
“You laughed at him. That’s mean.”
Substitute:
“You laughed at him. That is unkind.”
The meaning works.
Step Two: Try “That indicates”
If the sentence makes sense with “that indicates,” choose:
That means
For example:
“The lights are off. That means nobody is home.”
Substitute:
“The lights are off. That indicates nobody is home.”
Again, the meaning works.
The Two-Second Rule
Remember this:
That’s mean = That is unkind.
That means = That indicates.
That’s probably the fastest way to settle the question.
Side-by-Side Examples of “That’s Mean” vs. “That Means”
| Situation | Correct sentence | What it does |
| Someone insults a friend | “That’s mean.” | Judges the behavior. |
| A sign indicates a restriction | “That means we can’t enter.” | Explains the sign. |
| Someone laughs at another person’s failure | “That’s mean.” | Calls the behavior unkind. |
| A flight gets canceled | “That means we’ll need another flight.” | Explains the consequence. |
| Someone refuses to help deliberately | “That’s mean.” | Criticizes the action. |
| A deadline changes | “That means we have less time.” | Explains the implication. |
| Someone makes a cruel joke | “That’s mean.” | Evaluates the joke. |
| A machine displays an error | “That means something is wrong.” | Interprets the warning. |
A Mini Case Study: Why Context Changes Everything
Consider this short exchange:
Alex: “I told Mark his presentation was terrible.”
Jordan: “That’s mean.”
Here, that’s mean evaluates Alex’s comment.
Now imagine this:
Alex: “Mark’s presentation was rejected.”
Jordan: “That means he’ll have to present again.”
This time, that means it introduces a consequence.
The words look similar. Their jobs are completely different.
This is a useful lesson for English learners because many grammar mistakes aren’t really spelling problems. They’re function problems. You need to recognize what the sentence is doing before choosing the form.
Is “That’s Mean” Formal or Informal?
“That’s mean” is standard English. It’s especially common in everyday conversation because it’s short and emotionally direct.
You might hear:
“That’s mean.”
“That’s really mean.”
“That was mean.”
“Don’t be mean.”
In formal writing, you may choose a more precise description depending on the context:
- inappropriate
- unkind
- insensitive
- unfair
- discourteous
- hurtful
Still, there’s nothing grammatically wrong with “that’s mean.”
What About “That Means”?
“That means” works comfortably in both casual and formal contexts.
For example:
“The results are inconclusive. That means further testing may be necessary.”
That’s perfectly suitable for formal explanatory writing.
You might also say:
“The bus is late. That means we’re going to miss lunch.”
That’s casual and natural.
So the distinction isn’t really about formality.
It’s about meaning and grammar.
Quick Reference: Mean, Means, and That’s
| Form | Function | Example |
| mean | Base verb | “I mean what I said.” |
| means | Third-person singular verb | “That means a lot.” |
| mean | Adjective | “That’s mean.” |
| that’s | Usually “that is” or sometimes “that has” | “That’s mean.” |
| that means | Subject + verb | “That means we’re ready.” |
| that’s mean | Subject + linking verb + adjective | “That’s mean.” |
One particularly important point is that “that’s” doesn’t mean “means.”
The apostrophe tells you that letters have been omitted from that is or that has.
In “that’s mean,” it means “that is mean.”
In “that means,” there is no contraction. The word means is the main verb.
Practice: Can You Choose the Correct Expression?
Try these sentences before checking the answers.
- “You laughed when she made a mistake. ______”
- “The restaurant is closed. ______ we need another place.”
- “You told everyone his secret. ______”
- “The warning light is flashing. ______ there is a problem.”
- “What does that ______?”
- “Why do you think ______?”
- “The deadline moved forward. ______ we have less time.”
- “Ignoring her apology was ______.”
Answer Key
- That’s mean.
The speaker is criticizing someone’s behavior. - That means we need another place.
The speaker is explaining a consequence. - That’s mean.
Revealing someone’s secret is being described as unkind. - That means there is a problem.
The flashing light indicates something. - What does that mean?
Does requires the base form mean. - Why do you think that’s mean?
Here, that’s means that is. - That means we have less time.
The sentence explains an implication. - Ignoring her apology was mean.
Here, mean is an adjective describing the action.
FAQs:
What’s the difference between “That’s mean” and “That means”?
“That’s mean” expresses an emotional judgment about something rude or unkind. “That means” explains the meaning or result of something.
Is “That’s mean” grammatically correct?
Yes. “That’s mean” is grammatically correct because “that’s” means “that is.” It describes someone or something as unkind.
When should I use “That means”?
Use “That means” when you want to explain, clarify, or describe what something indicates.
Example: “The store is closed. That means we need another place.”
Why do people confuse “That’s mean” and “That means”?
They look and sound similar, especially in texting and casual conversation. However, their meanings and grammatical roles are different.
What is an easy way to remember the difference?
Use “That’s mean” for emotion and “That means” for explanation. This simple rule can help you avoid mixing them up.
Conclusion:
Understanding That’s Mean vs. That Means becomes much easier once you focus on their purpose. “That’s mean” expresses an emotional reaction to unkind behavior, while “That means” helps explain an idea, action, or result.
When you’re unsure, ask yourself what you’re trying to communicate. If you’re judging something as unkind, choose “That’s mean.” If you’re explaining what something means, choose “That means.”
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