這兩個字皆可當動詞和名詞用，儘管拼字和發音相近，但它們是截然不同的兩個字，沒有任何關連。
Gargle 當動詞時意為「漱口，漱喉，含漱」，如 Gargling with salt water may help your sore throat. (用鹽水漱口可能減輕你的喉嚨痛)；當名詞時意為「漱口，漱喉，含漱；漱口水，漱口液 (= mouthwash)；漱口聲，含漱聲」，如 Have a good gargle after each meal to remove the food particles stuck between your teeth. (飯後要好好漱口來清除牙縫間的食物殘渣)。
Gurgle 當動詞時意為「發出汩汩聲，(尤指嬰兒) 發出咯咯聲；(水等) 汩汩地流」，如 Her newborn baby gurgled contentedly. (她的新生寶寶發出滿足的咯咯聲)；The apple juice gurgled out of the bottle. (蘋果汁汩汩作響地從瓶子流出)；The water gurgled down the plughole. (水從排水孔汨汨往下流)；當名詞時意為「汩汩 (流水) 聲，咯咯聲」，如 All was quiet behind the closed gate apart from the gurgle of the fountain at the entrance. (除了入口處噴水池的汩汩流水聲之外，關起來的大門裡面寂靜無聲)。