Cool MateBarely vs Hardly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Barely
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Hardly
Top 2,000 (common)B1adverb
| Barely | Hardly | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈbeəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈberli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhɑːdli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhɑːrdli/"]/ |
| Meaning | hardly or only just | Barely or almost not at all |
| Example | He could barely read and write. | I can hardly hear you over the noise. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | barely enough, barely noticeable, barely remember | hardly believe, hardly realize, hardly notice, hardly anyone, hardly any |
| Antonyms | abundantly, plentifully, easily | completely, totally, easily |
| Common mistakes | 'Barely' is often confused with 'scarcely' which is more formal., Learners may omit 'barely' and say just 'enough', losing the emphasis., Using 'barely' with nouns instead of verbs (incorrect usage). | Confused with 'barely' - both mean similar things but might fit differently in sentences., Misuse in negative sentences - 'hardly not' is incorrect., Omitting it in sentences - 'I hardly can understand' should be 'I can hardly understand'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'barely' to indicate that something is just enough or hardly the case. It's neutral, appropriate in both casual and formal contexts, but avoid in overly formal writing. | Used to express that something is true to a very small degree. Avoid in very formal writing. Suitable in conversational contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Barely vs Hardly
What's the difference between Barely and Hardly?
Barely: hardly or only just Hardly: Barely or almost not at all
Which is more advanced: Barely and Hardly?
Barely is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Barely and Hardly the same CEFR level?
Barely: B2, Hardly: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Barely and Hardly?
Barely: adverb, Hardly: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Barely: He could barely read and write. Hardly: I can hardly hear you over the noise.
Can I use Barely and Hardly interchangeably?
Not always. Barely and Hardly 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.