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Confusing English words

Words with similar meanings

Make or do, say or tell, borrow or lend: words that translate to the same thing in many languages but are not used the same way in English.

Word pairs

  1. 1Make vs DoUse make when you create or produce something; use do for tasks, jobs and activities. Many uses are fixed collocations you learn by heart.make /meɪk/do /duː/
  2. 2Say vs TellTell is followed by a person (tell someone something); say is not (say something, or say something to someone).say /seɪ/tell /tel/
  3. 3Speak vs TalkSpeak is more formal and is used for languages and one person addressing others; talk is more informal and suggests a conversation between people.speak /spiːk/talk /tɔːk/
  4. 4Borrow vs LendYou borrow something from someone (you receive it); you lend something to someone (you give it). Both mean it comes back later.borrow /ˈbɒrəʊ/lend /lend/
  5. 5Bring vs TakeBring means movement towards here (where the speaker or listener is); take means movement away from here to somewhere else.bring /brɪŋ/take /teɪk/
  6. 6Rob vs StealYou rob a person or place (a bank, a shop, someone); you steal a thing (money, a phone, a car).rob /rɒb/steal /stiːl/
  7. 7Look vs See vs WatchSee happens without trying, look is a short, deliberate action, and watch means looking at something for a while, usually because it moves or changes.look /lʊk/see /siː/watch /wɒtʃ/
  8. 8Hear vs ListenHear happens to you without effort; listen is something you choose to do with attention. Listen needs to before an object.hear /hɪə/listen /ˈlɪsn/
  9. 9Fun vs FunnyFun means enjoyable (a fun party); funny means it makes you laugh (a funny joke) or it's strange.fun /fʌn/funny /ˈfʌni/
  10. 10Job vs WorkJob is countable (a job, two jobs) and means a position or task; work is usually uncountable and means the activity or the place.job /dʒɒb/work /wɜːk/
  11. 11Remember vs RemindYou remember something yourself; someone or something reminds you, which makes you remember. Remind always needs a person after it.remember /rɪˈmembə/remind /rɪˈmaɪnd/
  12. 12Lie vs LayLie means to be flat and has no object (lie down); lay means to put something down and always needs an object (lay the book on the table).lie /laɪ/lay /leɪ/
  13. 13Rise vs RaiseRise has no object, things rise by themselves (the sun rises); raise needs an object, you raise something (raise your hand).rise /raɪz/raise /reɪz/
  14. 14Trip vs Travel vs JourneyTravel is mainly a verb or a general activity; a trip is a visit somewhere and back; a journey is the actual movement from A to B.trip /trɪp/travel /ˈtrævl/journey /ˈdʒɜːni/
  15. 15Historic vs HistoricalHistoric means important in history (a historic moment); historical means about or from the past (a historical film, historical records).historic /hɪˈstɒrɪk/historical /hɪˈstɒrɪkl/
  16. 16Economic vs EconomicalEconomic is about the economy (economic crisis, economic growth); economical means saving money or not wasteful (an economical car).economic /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk/economical /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪkl/
  17. 17Sensible vs SensitiveSensible means practical and reasonable; sensitive means easily affected or aware of feelings. They are false friends for many learners.sensible /ˈsensəbl/sensitive /ˈsensətɪv/
  18. 18Alone vs LonelyAlone is a fact: no one is with you. Lonely is a feeling: you are sad because you lack company. You can be alone without being lonely.alone /əˈləʊn/lonely /ˈləʊnli/