Cool MateAdmire vs Like my heart
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Admire
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Like my heart
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: AdmireMost common: Admire
| Admire | Like my heart | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ədˈmaɪə(r)/","/ədˈmaɪəz/","/ədˈmaɪəd/","/ədˈmaɪərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ədˈmaɪər/","/ədˈmaɪərz/","/ədˈmaɪərd/","/ədˈmaɪərɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //laɪk maɪ hɑːt//🇺🇸 //laɪk maɪ hɑrt// |
| Meaning | To think highly of someone or something and appreciate their qualities. | something you really enjoy or feel strongly about |
| Example | I really admire her dedication to her work. | I really **like my heart** when I listen to jazz music. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | deeply, enormously, greatly, have to, about, for, be generally admired, be widely admired, can’t help admiring, pause to, stop to, stand back to | like crazy, like a kid, like it or not |
| Antonyms | despise, disdain, scorn | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'admiration' as a verb., Incorrectly using 'admire' without an object., Using 'admire' inappropriately in casual contexts. | Confused with 'like' as a filler word in speech, 'My heart' used too literally instead of emotionally |
| Usage notes | Use 'admire' when you want to express respect or approval for someone or something. It is appropriate in both spoken and written English, but might come across as less common in very casual conversations. | Used informally to express strong affection or enjoyment. Avoid in formal settings like presentations or academic writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Admire vs Like my heart
What's the difference between Admire and Like my heart?
Admire: To think highly of someone or something and appreciate their qualities. Like my heart: something you really enjoy or feel strongly about
Which is more formal: Admire and Like my heart?
Admire is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Admire and Like my heart?
Admire is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Admire: I really admire her dedication to her work. Like my heart: I really **like my heart** when I listen to jazz music.
Can I use Admire and Like my heart interchangeably?
Not always. Admire and Like my heart 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.