Cool MateAbsolutely vs You can say that again
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Absolutely
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adverb
You can say that again
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: AbsolutelyMost common: Absolutely
| Absolutely | You can say that again | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈæbsəluːtli/","/ˌæbsəˈluːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈæbsəluːtli/","/ˌæbsəˈluːtli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //jʊ kæn seɪ ðæt əˈɡeɪn//🇺🇸 //ju kæn seɪ ðæt əˈɡeɪn// |
| Meaning | completely or totally | I agree with what you said. |
| Example | I absolutely agree with your point of view. | It's a beautiful day, isn't it? |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | absolutely certain, absolutely necessary, absolutely perfect, absolutely agree, absolutely right | say that again, you can say that, say it again |
| Antonyms | partially, conditionally, uncertainly | I disagree, Not at all, Absolutely not |
| Common mistakes | Using 'absolutely' when 'maybe' is more appropriate., Saying 'absolutely' in a sarcastic tone but not indicating sarcasm., Confusing 'absolutely' with 'certainly' in non-emphatic contexts. | Used in formal conversations., Confused with 'You said it!' or 'Absolutely!', Thinking it's a literal request to repeat something. |
| Usage notes | Used to emphasize something; can be informal in some contexts. Avoid in overly casual conversations where simpler terms are preferred. | Used informally to express strong agreement with someone's statement. It's not suitable for formal contexts like business meetings or academic writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Absolutely vs You can say that again
What's the difference between Absolutely and You can say that again?
Absolutely: completely or totally You can say that again: I agree with what you said.
Which is more formal: Absolutely and You can say that again?
Absolutely is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Absolutely and You can say that again?
Absolutely is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Absolutely: I absolutely agree with your point of view. You can say that again: It's a beautiful day, isn't it?
Can I use Absolutely and You can say that again interchangeably?
Not always. Absolutely and You can say that again are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.