Commonly confused words in English
These are English words that learners often mix up: some share one translation, others look or sound almost the same. Each group comes with the rule that tells them apart, and each word with an example and audio.
Commonly confused words with similar meanings
In many languages each of these groups is one word, and English splits it in two or more. Every word starts chosen: untick the ones you know and add the rest to your dictionary.
say · tell · speak · talk
Tell takes the person you're speaking to: tell me, tell her the truth. Say doesn't need one: say hello, say it again (say it to me works too). Speak is for a language or a talk in front of people: speak English, speak at a meeting. Talk is a conversation: talk to a friend.
- say/seɪ/to speak wordsWhat did you say?
- tell/tel/to give information to someoneTell me about your day.
- speak/spiːk/to use your voice or a languageDo you speak English?
- talk/tɔːk/to have a conversationCan we talk about it later?
make · do
Make is for creating something: make a cake, make a mistake, make a decision. Do is for activities and work: do homework, do the dishes, do sport.
- make/meɪk/to create or produce somethingLet's make a cake.
- do/duː/to carry out an action or activityWhat do you do at the weekend?
look · see · watch
See happens on its own when your eyes are open: I see a bird. Look means turning your eyes to something on purpose: look at this. Watch is looking for a while at something that moves or changes: watch a film, watch the kids.
- look/lʊk/to turn your eyes towards somethingLook at this photo.
- see/siː/to notice with your eyesI can see the sea from my window.
- watch/wɒtʃ/to look at something for a whileWe watched a film last night.
hear · listen
Hear is sound reaching you whether you want it or not: I heard a noise. Listen means paying attention, and it takes to before the thing: listen to music.
- hear/hɪə/to receive soundsCan you hear me?
- listen/ˈlɪsn/to pay attention to soundsListen to me carefully.
borrow · lend
You borrow from someone and lend to someone. "Can I borrow your pen?" and "Can you lend me your pen?" ask for the same pen from opposite sides.
- borrow/ˈbɒrəʊ/to take something you will give backCan I borrow your pen?
- lend/lend/to give something that will be returnedCould you lend me ten euros?
remember · remind · recall · memorise
You remember something yourself: I remember her name. Someone or something reminds you: remind me to call Mum. Recall is a more formal remember, often for details: I don't recall saying that. Memorise means learning by heart: memorise a poem.
- remember/rɪˈmembə/to keep something in your mindI can't remember his name.
- remind/rɪˈmaɪnd/to make someone rememberRemind me to call my mum.
- recall/rɪˈkɔːl/to remember a fact or eventI don't recall saying that.
- memorise/ˈmeməraɪz/to learn something by heartActors have to memorise their lines.
teach · learn · study
A teacher teaches and a student learns: she teaches me English, I learn English from her. Nobody learns someone: she taught me, never she learned me. Study is the work you put in, often at school or university: study for an exam, study law.
- teach/tiːtʃ/to help someone learnShe teaches maths at a school.
- learn/lɜːn/to get knowledge or a skillI want to learn Spanish.
- study/ˈstʌdi/to spend time learning a subjectShe studies law at university.
wait · expect
Wait is spending time until something happens: wait for the bus. Expect is thinking something will happen: I expect it'll rain. Guests you're getting ready for take expect too: we're expecting guests.
- wait/weɪt/to stay until something happensWait for me at the door.
- expect/ɪkˈspekt/to think something will happenI expect he'll be late.
fun · funny
Fun is something you enjoy: the party was fun. Funny makes you laugh: a funny joke. A game can be fun without being funny.
- fun/fʌn/enjoyableThe trip was really fun.
- funny/ˈfʌni/making you laughHe told a funny story.
Words that look or sound alike
These differ by a letter or a sound. Listen to each word before you read the rule.
through · though · thought · thorough
These differ by a letter or two and sound nothing alike. Through /θruː/ is about going from one side to the other: through the door. Though /ðəʊ/ means although: I went, though I was tired. Thought /θɔːt/ is an idea, and the past of think. Thorough /ˈθʌrə/ means careful and complete: a thorough check.
- through/θruː/from one side to the otherWe walked through the park.
- though/ðəʊ/althoughI went out, though I was tired.
- thought/θɔːt/an ideaThat's a good thought.
- thorough/ˈθʌrə/careful and completeThe doctor did a thorough check.
quite · quiet
Quite /kwaɪt/ has one syllable and means fairly: quite good. Quiet /ˈkwaɪət/ has two and means not loud: a quiet street.
- quite/kwaɪt/fairly, ratherThe film was quite good.
- quiet/ˈkwaɪət/making little noisePlease be quiet in the library.
lose · loose
Lose /luːz/, with one o and a z sound, is the verb: don't lose your keys. Loose /luːs/, with two o's and an s sound, is the adjective: loose jeans.
- lose/luːz/to no longer have somethingDon't lose your ticket.
- loose/luːs/not tightThese jeans are a bit loose.
affect · effect
Affect is usually the verb and effect the noun: stress affects sleep, stress has an effect on sleep. A for action, E for end result.
- affect/əˈfekt/to change or influenceThe weather affects my mood.
- effect/ɪˈfekt/a result or changeThe medicine had no effect.
accept · except
Accept is a verb meaning to agree to take: accept an offer. Except means apart from: everyone except me. They start with different sounds: /əkˈsept/ and /ɪkˈsept/.
- accept/əkˈsept/to agree to takeShe accepted the job offer.
- except/ɪkˈsept/apart fromEveryone came except Tom.
advice · advise
Advice, with a c and an s sound, is the noun, and it's uncountable: some advice, a piece of advice, never an advice. Advise, with an s and a z sound, is the verb: I advise you to rest.
- advice/ədˈvaɪs/an opinion on what to doCan I give you some advice?
- advise/ədˈvaɪz/to tell someone what to doThe doctor advised me to rest.
desert · dessert
Desert /ˈdezət/, stressed on the first syllable, is sand and heat. Dessert /dɪˈzɜːt/, stressed on the second, is the sweet course. You'd want seconds of dessert, so it has two s's.
- desert/ˈdezət/a dry, sandy regionNothing grows in the desert.
- dessert/dɪˈzɜːt/sweet food after a mealWhat's for dessert?
than · then
Than compares: bigger than, better than. Then is about time: first this, then that.
- than/ðæn/used in comparisonsShe's taller than her brother.
- then/ðen/after thatWe had dinner, then we went for a walk.
live · leave
Many learners hear these as one word, but the vowels differ in length. Live /lɪv/ is short and means to have your home somewhere. Leave /liːv/ is long and means to go away. "I live in London" and "I leave London" say very different things.
- live/lɪv/to have your home somewhereWhere do you live?
- leave/liːv/to go away from a placeI leave home at seven.
How to stop mixing them up
- Learn the words of a group together, with the rule. Tell me and say hello stick better side by side than a week apart.
- Learn each word inside a phrase: do homework, make a mistake. The phrase brings back the right word when you need it.
- Listen to the look-alikes before you read them. Through and though are easy to tell apart by ear, and the spelling follows.
- Use them when you speak. A mix-up shows up in conversation, and a correction you get there is the one you remember.
