Cool MateAfter you vs But you first
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
After you
Top 2,000 (common)
But you first
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: After you
| After you | But you first | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈɑːftə jʊ//🇺🇸 //ˈæftɚ ju// | 🇬🇧 //bʌt jʊ fɜːst//🇺🇸 //bʌt jʊ fɜrst// |
| Meaning | When you finish, I will go next. | You go before me. |
| Example | You can go first; it's after you. | He opened the door and said, 'But you first.' |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| Collocations | go after, after you, please | say but you first, use but you first, hear but you first |
| Antonyms | before you, ahead of you, in front of you | - |
| Common mistakes | Used too early; should wait for the other person to finish., Mispronunciation in fast speech; ensure clarity., Omitting 'you' and saying just 'after' which sounds incomplete. | Using 'but you first' in very formal situations might sound too casual., Some learners misplace the phrase in a sentence when trying to integrate it. |
| Usage notes | Used to indicate someone can proceed after another person. Suitable in polite conversations but may feel formal in casual contexts. | Used in polite conversation to allow someone else to go ahead. Suitable for both formal and informal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: After you vs But you first
What's the difference between After you and But you first?
After you: When you finish, I will go next. But you first: You go before me.
Which is more common: After you and But you first?
After you is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
After you: You can go first; it's after you. But you first: He opened the door and said, 'But you first.'
Can I use After you and But you first interchangeably?
Not always. After you and But you first 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.